Students feel unsafe amid continued Christian protests

Born-again Christian activists took to the Quad around noon Wednesday to preach and argue with SF State students. They are just one of many extreme religious groups to frequent campus during the first weeks of the fall semester. 

The leader of the protest refused to give his name and referred to himself as POG, Preacher of God, holding a sign that read, “Jesus Saves from Hell.” 

POG antagonized students with his biblical rhetoric while his wife recorded from afar. Students gathered to protest his presence on campus by dancing and debating. 

Second year student Elise Barajas was one of the students rallying against the Christian activist. Barajas said that POG has been coming to the campus since last semester to disrupt student spaces and communities. 

According to Barajas, POG harassed women and other marginalized groups, even if they were not engaged in the protest. Barajas said he especially targeted Muslim women wearing hijabs, telling them to leave Islam and find salvation. 

“[POG] was calling people out when they were walking by, especially young women who seem very shy,” Barajas said. 

Assistant Dean of Students Chris Trudell came to the scene to ensure the safety of students and advised them to ignore the harassment. Still, Trudell said that these groups are allowed to preach on campus grounds because SF State is a public university that is protected by the First Amendment to free speech. 

Trudell said that those who have been called out or harassed by one of these groups should make a report to the university. 

“The issue of speech, and how people may feel the interpretation of that speech … there’s a lot of different policies and procedures,” Trudell said. “In my five years here, this is the most frequency I’ve seen.”

Third year student Delaney Bradix-Lofton, was also in the Quad to protest POG. She felt frustrated with not only the preachers but SF State’s administration for allowing them to come on campus at all. 

Lofton said she was outraged by the fact that these groups antagonize and film students without their consent. 

“San Francisco State University, you’re not keeping your students safe,” Bradix-Lofton said. 

Gallery • 5 Photos

Miguel Francesco Carrion

A born-again Christian protester who self-identifies as POG or “Preacher of God” debates with students in the Quad on Sept. 7. POG came to the SF State campus holding a banner that called various groups to “repent or perish.” (Miguel Francesco Carrion / Golden Gate Xpress)