Mikhail Sarenko believes hate speech is “a made up word.”
Many University of Oregon students disagreed. Sarenko and his associates from Campus Ministry USA–including Jed Smock, also known as “Brother Jed”–have been conducting what their website calls “confrontational evangelism” at UO since Monday. Though mostly ignored, the group did draw protesting from students on Thursday.
A small group of women, including the UO Bias Response Team, held signs in protest of the presence of Campus Ministry USA while dozens of students looked on. Some signs stated “You are loved the way you are” and “You’re not going to hell.”
There was some “light scuffling,” according to bystanders, and the University of Oregon Police Department came to the scene, but did not intervene.
Representatives from Campus Ministry USA carried signs saying “You Deserve Hell” and “Repent or Perish.” (Shelby Chapman/Emerald)
Maure Smith-Benanti is the coordinator of the Bias Response Team at the UO.
“They have a right to be here due to freedom of speech,” Smith-Benanti said. “The Bias Response Team believes the best way to respond to hate and offensive speech is with more speech. Additionally, the Bias Response Team believes in peaceful protest.”
Mikhail Sarenko, one of the representatives of Campus Ministry USA, held signs that stated “Be a Ho No Mo” and “Be a Homo No Mo.”
“I am here to preach God’s word and God wants me to preach that if students live in sin and die and sin they’ll go to hell,” said Sarenko. “I actually love these students and care for them. I don’t want them to go to hell.”
Emily Brown was one of the students holding a sign in protest.
“I think there’s a fine line between freedom of speech and hate speech,” said Brown. “This is the line.”
Sarenko thinks people like Brown are misusing the term “hate speech.”
“Anything people disagree with people call hate speech,” Sarenko said.
This is Campus Ministry USA’s third and final day at the UO. Their next destination is Oregon State University, then several colleges in California.
