By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
A battery citation was dropped after an individual struck a male in the hand, when protesting a Gay Pride Parade/March at the Temple.
According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Sunday, June 1st at 2:00 pm officers received a call regarding two individuals protesting a Gay Pride Parade/March that was being held at the Temple. It was reported the two were preaching about the "sin of homosexuality" with speakers on the public property of the Temple.
Officers arrived to the scene and asked them to leave, due to a disturbance issue. The individuals then relocated to a nearby sidewalk and continued to protest. Later on at approximately 2:51 pm, Salina Police received another call about a 62-year old male wanting to press battery charges.
Officers arrived to the scene again and made contact with the victim who wanted to press charges on one of the protesting individuals. Police say, the male tried to warn the two about a city ordinance and he approached them as if he was going to touch the speakers.
One of the individuals told him to keep his distance and he agreed to not approach them. However, the 62-year old attempted to touch the speaker and one of the protestors struck the man in the hand.
According to the SPD a citation for battery was initially made on the protestor, but was dropped because the individual was protecting the speaker.