#community church of chesterland

[planetofsnarfs]

A church in Ohio that suffered an arson attack last year after it agreed to host drag shows has sued the guilty party and members of the extremist group he is affiliated with for damages.

Earlier this year, 20-year-old Aimenn Penny was sentenced to 18 years in prison for trying to destroy the Community Church of Chesterland with Molotov cocktails for hosting a drag show.

The congregation, affiliated with the theologically liberal United Church of Christ denomination, filed a complaint against Penny and members of the group White Lives Matter Ohio in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, on Wednesday. 

The church is seeking compensatory and punitive damages over the organization's involvement in the attack on the congregation, which was a violation of their civil rights. 

The defendants are accused of six counts: "Conspiracy to Interfere With Civil Rights," violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances & Places of Religious Worship Act, a FACE Act violation specifically directed at Penny, "Civil Liability for Vandalism, Desecration, or Ethnic Intimidation," "Trespass to Land," and "Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress."

The plaintiffs are represented by the law firm Jones Day and the Anti-Defamation League, a progressive Jewish American advocacy organization that monitors antisemitic groups and other extremist elements.

The lawsuit describes White Lives Matter Ohio as the state chapter of a national network that "requires members to coordinate with each other on activism events and encourages alignment with similar extremist groups, such as Blood Tribe, in order to amplify their shared message of hatred."

"These members attended several White Lives Matter Ohio rallies and 'activism' events culminating in the March 2023 attack on Community Church," the complaint contends.

"These rallies and 'activism' leading up to the attack on the Community Church were directed at others engaged in advancing racial or social justice similar to the practices of the Community Church members, and demonstrate Defendants' increasingly hateful and violent conspiracy to deprive Plaintiffs from practicing their diverse and inclusive religion."

ADL Senior Director of National Litigation James Pasch said in a statement Wednesday that the lawsuit "meticulously documents how members of a local White Lives Matter chapter conspired to deprive members of the Community Church of Chesterland of their church property."

"Their resultant actions in targeting a community church with a hate crime are not just morally abhorrent, they are a clear violation of federal civil rights and property law," Pasch continued.

In March 2023, Penny threw two Molotov cocktails at the Community Church in an effort to burn down the sanctuary in response to the congregation's decision to host a drag show. While the property was damaged, the drag shows went on as scheduled.

Penny was arrested and charged by the end of the month, facing a count of possessing a destructive device and a count of malicious use of explosive materials.

A joint effort by the FBI Cleveland Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Chester Township Police Department led to the arrest, according to Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office.

"The FBI leveraged its task force and its specialized resources to identify, locate and subsequently arrest the subject earlier today," said Nelsen in a statement last year.

"We thank the collaborative work and strong partnership of the Chester Township Police and Lake and Geauga County local authorities who assisted."

Penny pleaded guilty last October to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and using fire and explosives to attempt to commit a felony. He was sentenced to 18 years in January.

"This sentence holds Mr. Penny accountable for carrying out violence against an Ohio church because he disagreed with the way congregants chose to express their beliefs," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the U.S. Justice Department's National Security Division in a statement earlier this year.

"Such acts of extremist violence have no place in our communities and the Justice Department is committed to bringing to justice those who would use or threaten violence to prevent their fellow citizens from freely exercising their fundamental rights." 

[coochiequeens]

No one should be sending threats but didn’t anyone in the church say “that $20,000 could be spent towards a soup kitchen which would benefit more families when the kids are out of school for the summer?”

An Ohio church hosted a Drag Queen Story Hour days after a man was arrested for targeting the church.

Aimenn Penny, 20, told authorities he was "trying to protect children" and was arrested on arson charges.

Security for the event cost $20,000 after Penny attempted to burn the church down with Molotov cocktails, per The Guardian. 

An Ohio church spent thousands on security for a Drag Queen Story Hour days after police arrested a man who tried to burn down the building using Molotov cocktails. 

The Community Church of Chesterland's Drag Queen Story Hour proceeded "without incident" on April 1, after authorities say a man attempted to commit arson against the church on March 27.

"At the story hour, we just had so many kids that were smiling and enjoying themselves and parents that were dancing with their kids. It was just a beautiful, lovely time, which is what we wanted all along," pastor Jess Peacock told Insider. "It was made even more beautiful and lovely because of everything we had to go through to get there." 

The event's security coordinator, Mallory McMaster, told The Guardian protection for the drag story hour cost $20,000 – calling it the "most involved and multilayered security process I've ever had to do for any event." She told the outlet that it was more elaborate than coordinating security for abortion centers. 

"The rhetoric is so incendiary, and the language is getting more and more volatile," McMaster told the outlet, adding that six months ago, an event like this "would not have needed any security." 

Authorities arrested D. Penny, a 20-year-old from the Ohio city of Alliance, on March 25 after he used Molotov cocktails "in an attempt to burn the church to the ground," according to the Justice Department.

Penny's attorney, John W. Greven, did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.

In an interview with federal authorities, Penny "admitted to building the Molotov cocktails" in an attempt to burn the church, telling authorities he "was trying to protect children and stop the drag show event," according to an FBI affidavit.

He attended a previous drag queen story hour in a neighboring town to distribute "propaganda flyers representing White Lives Matter, Ohio's anti-drag queen views," the affidavit said. 

Penny, who the FBI also said is a member of Ohio's White Lives Matter group, was charged with malicious use of explosive materials and possessing a destructive device, according to the DOJ.

According to the FBI affidavit, authorities searched Penny's home and found a "hand-written manifesto that contained ideological statements, a Nazi flag, Nazi memorabilia, a White Lives Matter of Ohio t-shirt, a gas mask, multiple rolls of blue painters tape, and gas cans."

Penny's arson attempt left scorch marks visible at the church. 

In a Facebook post in the days after the incident, Peacock wrote to parishioners on Facebook, saying they were "exhausted, angry, saddened, and frustrated by the hate and ignorance that has been, quite literally, hurled at us in the form of a Molotov cocktail."

"Despite three vile threats from hate groups, we are moving forward and we are confident in our security plan," Peacock added in a later post, saying they were "expecting some protest activity" on the day of the story hour. 

A lone protestor showed up at the church on April 1 and "sat streetside and did nothing," according to Cleveland.com.

"And the only memory resulting from the day's event at the church was Joy and Love! So much Love!" the church posted on Facebookafter the story hour. 

Pastor Peacock, who uses they/them pronouns, told Insider that the church received an outpouring of support and donations after the threats of violence.  They added that the Community Church of Chesterland is "absolutely committed to continuing" to host LGBTQ-supportive events, especially after hosting the county's first Pride celebration last summer. 

"This is why these events are important," Peacock told Insider. "The fact that so many people have reached out to encourage and support us, we are just so incredibly thankful for that." 

[gwydionmisha]

"Members of White Lives Matter, which is defined by the FBI as “a group with racist, pro-Nazi, and homophobic views," were at the event “carrying swastika flags and shouting racial and homophobic slurs and ‘Heil Hitler.” A picture of Penny in attendance was included in the affidavit."

[archivlibrarianist]

It's getting worse.

From the article:

"CHESTERLAND, Ohio (WJW) — A local church says it was vandalized on Friday ahead of its drag show brunch and story hour planned for April 1.

"The Community Church of Chesterland said in a press release that its sign was destroyed by Molotov cocktails leaving minimal damage to the church, which was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries.

"'Despite the minimal damage, the church is taking extraordinary security precautions ahead of the planned protest scheduled for April 1 and services will resume as scheduled,' the church said.

"Also, a sign that usually hangs in the front portion of the church was smashed with a sledgehammer."

[mongowheelie]

'White Lives Matter' activist pleads guilty to arson attack on LGBTQ-friendly church

[pashterlengkap]

Neo-Nazi could go away for years for firebombing a church for hosting a drag story hour

An Ohio neo-Nazi has pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime charge for firebombing a church that was planning to host a pair of drag events. Aimenn D. Penny, a 20-year-old member of an Ohio White Lives Matter group, submitted his plea on Monday, admitting to obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs and arson. According to Cleveland.com, he will be sentenced on January 29 by U.S. District Judge Bridget Brennan and faces at least 10 years in prison, with up to 15 on the table. Related: Rightwing host praises dad for rejecting gay daughter because LGBTQ+ people “infest our children” The Christian dad said that the “lesbian cult” took his daughter so he rejected her. But now some members of his family won’t talk to him. Penny admitted to throwing Molotov cocktails at the Community Church of Chesterland in Chester, Ohio on March 25. The attack, which left scorch marks on the church’s door, was allegedly in response to drag queen storytime events planned for April 1. Get the Daily Brief The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you: Subscribe to our Newsletter His admission came during a March 31st search of his homes when he told FBI agents he threw the Molotov cocktail with the intent of burning down the church. “Penny stated that he was trying to protect children and stop the drag show event,” according to a criminal complaint. “Penny described using bottles from his bedroom and detailed the ingredients and steps he used to build and use the devices. Penny stated that night, he became angrier after watching internet videos of news feeds and drag shows in France and decided to attack the church. Penny stated that he would have felt better if the Molotov cocktails were more effective and burned the entire church to the ground.” According to the complaint, Penny was also observed distributing anti-drag flyers at another drag event on March 11 with other members of White Lives Matter Ohio who were shouting racial and homophobic slurs. They also carried a flag with a swastika on it and shouted, “Heil Hitler.” “Open source searches revealed that individuals plan to be present and armed en masse at the [April 1] events to protest,” the document states. In April, journalist Ford Fischer posted two videos of Fischer yelling anti-LGBTQ+ slurs as part of a protest with White Lives Matter Ohio. In one video, he yells, “Fascism over fa***ts.” In another, he condemns LGBTQ+ people for “degeneracy.” Aimenn Penny, 20, seen in this clip below condemning "degeneracy" now faces a minimum of 5 and maximum of 20 years in prison for firebombing a church, which he apparently already admitted to. Assuming conviction, he won't be allowed to wear that gun around on his hip anymore. pic.twitter.com/SzFJw8Q5p3— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) April 2, 2023 Aimenn Penny was a member of "White Lives Matter of Ohio." When his group was confronted by a drag supporter a few weeks ago, they raised their arms in Nazi salutes. At the end of the clip, you'll see Penny yell "Fascism over faggots!" Again, two weeks later, he allegedly… pic.twitter.com/SaeMVR8qXc— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) April 2, 2023 http://dlvr.it/SxtX7V

[ultraheydudemestuff]

First Church of Christ in Euclid (First United Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland, New Life Cathedral )

16200 Euclid Ave.

East Cleveland, OH

First Church of Christ in Euclid (also known as the First United Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland) is a historic church at 16200 Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland, Ohio.  It was built in 1893 and added to the National Register in 1978.  The First Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland, founded August 27, 1807, as the Church of Christ in Euclid, was one of the first churches in the Western Reserve. Also known as Historic Presbyterian Church, it has occupied the same plot of land for its entire history, at 16200 Euclid Ave.  The church organized with about 12 members in the home of Andrew McIlrath. The Plan of Union Sunday school, with missionary William Wick in charge, affiliated with the Hartford, CT, Presbytery on March 15, 1810. Members first met in homes and barns, then in a log structure on land later purchased from the McIlraths, in what was then Euclid Twp. This was replaced in 1816 with a white frame meetinghouse. Thomas Barr served as the first minister (1810-20). In 1828, under Stephen Peet (1826-33), the First Presbyterian Society of Euclid officially organized (also called First Presbyterian Church of Euclid). On 4 July 1852, in a dispute over slavery, members who wanted to deny communion to "man-dealers" left this church to form the Free Congregational Church.

     First Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland laid the cornerstone for a new building on August 27, 1893, dedicated the Sunday school on February 4, 1894, and the sanctuary on November 3, 1895. In 1896 the name changed to First Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland (no relationship to the congregation of the same name which met at Doan’s Corners and later became Euclid Ave. Congregational Church).  From the early 20th century until 1983, the name was First United Presbyterian Church, reflecting denominational schisms . Ministers included William H. Beecher (stated supply preacher, 1843-49, brother of Henry Ward Beecher) and M. Howard Wells (1926-62). The church spawned the Windermere Presbyterian Chapel (later Windermere Presbyterian Church), "Old First" Noble Hts. Bible Chapel (1921, later Noble Rd. Presbyterian Church) in Cleveland Hts., and Christ Presbyterian Church of Chesterland (1957). The church constructed a wing in 1962 for its burgeoning Sunday school, which peaked in the 1960s at over 650; church membership then stood at about 1,600.

     First Church lost members from about 1965-80, with "white flight" from East Cleveland. Although experiencing a series of short term ministers, the church continued social activism, sponsoring a daycare, housing the community newspaper, the East Cleveland Citizen, and supporting interracial efforts such as the East Cleveland Community Theater (later the East Cleveland Theater). The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1978.  Under Carroll C. Meyer (head of staff, 1981-94) and David B. Bowie (assoc. minister, 1983-87), the revitalized congregation purposefully and successfully integrated African Americans into its membership, boards, and staff. In 1995 the church, a Headstart site, offered free meals programs and a weekly program for neighborhood youth. Membership stood at about 300. First Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland closed in 2010, and its building is now used by New Life Cathedral.

[bibleblender]

New article has been published on https://www.bibleblender.com/2023/christian-news/ohio-man-charged-with-attempting-to-burn-down-church-that-planned-to-host-drag-show-events

Ohio man charged with attempting to burn down church that planned to host drag show events.

An Ohio man named Aimenn D. Penny has been indicted for violating the Church Arson Prevention Act by using Molotov cocktails against the Community Church of Chesterland in an attempt to burn it down. He was also indicted on one count of using fire to commit a federal felony, one count of malicious use of explosive materials and one count of possessing a destructive device.

[noahb216]

Only one protestor shows up for drag story hour at Community Church of Chesterland

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/04/only-one-protestor-shows-up-for-drag-story-hour-at-community-church-of-chesterland.html

[occupyhades]

Ohio church pelted with Molotov cocktails after announcing plan to host drag story hour - RawStory.com

A church in Ohio that intends to host a drag show brunch and story hour says that it was pelted with Molotov cocktails late last week. Local news station Fox 8 reports that the Community Church of Chesterland, Ohio, has been apparently targeted with violence over its decision to host the show...

[sutrala]

A church was vandalized with Molotov cocktails Friday ahead of the church hosting a drag brunch and story hour, WJW reported. “Despite the minimal damage, the church is taking extraordinary security precautions ahead of the planned protest scheduled for April 1 and...

[noahb216]

LGBTQ+ supporters invited to vigil Thursday night on Chardon Square, asked to skip Saturday protests

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/03/lgbtq-supporters-invited-to-vigil-thursday-night-on-chardon-square-asked-to-skip-saturday-protests.html