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The persecution narrative

Events can have many perspectives; especially fraught, political ones. The Sept. 23 flash-sing at City Hall shows differences in viewpoint. Were Christians innocently arrested for singing freely, or did they stubbornly violate local law? Due to Douglas Wilson’s public opposition to the mask ordinance, the fact that they brought cameras to the event, and the fact that the group cheered on the arrested folks — these facts suggest that the group knew the potential consequences.

Wilson commented in a July 15 podcast that requiring citizens to wear masks is like requiring people to wear propeller hats in public. Such a nonsequiter obscures the fact that propeller hats do not prevent virus droplets from spreading, while masks do.

When the group arrived around 4:40 p.m. (having planned the event on Facebook), police informed Wilson that everyone must wear face masks or maintain 6 feet distance between family groups, lest they receive citations. Wilson informed the congregation of the directive, and told people to stand on the helpfully laid out colored dots.

The group brought video cameras, with church member Daniel Foucachon filming the encounters (on Facebook), standing close to the police as they asked to step away. About 10 minutes after Gabriel Rench’s arrest, police informed local teachers Sean and Rachel Bohnet that they were violating the order and that they would be arrested. As the police escorted the two away, the crowd cheered and clapped for the Bohnets.

One cannot claim immunity from punishment when one willingly and knowingly engages in an activity that one knows may meet with reprimand. After the arrests, members began shouting at and harassing police. If anything, the headline should read: heroic cops remain calm under pressure during antagonistic psalm-sing. But that wouldn’t fit the persecution narrative of innocent Christian martyrs, would it?

Andy Johnson
Pullman

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