UTAH RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE

Permission has been granted by Kurt Van Gorden to post the article "Losing Freedom in Utah, Part I"

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Minister Arrested After Taping Mormon Pageant

The Associated Press
August 12th, 2006

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- An evangelical Christian minister says he was unlawfully arrested while trying to tape a performance of a Mormon-themed pageant in the Clarkston Cemetery near Logan last night.

Joel Kramer says he was arrested and booked for disorderly conduct after telling a Cache County sheriff's deputy he was not violating any laws by videotaping the pageant. The pageant depicts the life of Martin Harris, an early disciple of Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Kramer says he was within his right to video tape the free pageant from public land.

But Kramer says he was told by a sheriff's deputy the Mormon church requested he turn off his cameras.

Kramer posted $280 bail and was released from jail.

No one from the sheriff's office was available to discuss the incident today.

Mormon church spokesman Mike Otterson says he was unaware of what happened.

It's unclear if prosecutors will formally charge Kramer with a crime.


  New signs at Mormon plaza say anyone can be barred

The Associated Press
September 29, 2009

SALT LAKE CITY — New signs at a Mormon church-owned plaza in downtown Salt Lake City put visitors on notice: Anyone can be asked to leave for any reason.

The change follows a much-publicized incident this summer in which two men were cited with trespassing on the plaza after sharing a kiss. City prosecutors did not pursue the charges, saying signs at the plaza failed to adequately warn the couple they were entering private property.

Church spokesman Scott Trotter says the new signs include extra text at the suggestion of the Salt Lake City prosecutor's office. They now say the church reserves the right to refuse access to anyone.

City prosecutor Sim Gill says the new signs provide clarity. He says with the new signs in place, visitors who refuse to leave could be prosecuted for trespassing.

 

 

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