South Carolina
Show the Truth Tour

October 22-27, 2003

Full Quiver Mission joined Columbia Christians For Life under the direction of Steve Lefemine for a tour to witness against child-killing in South Carolina. Also present was the Green Family, Life & Liberty Ministries. The tour included stops in several towns, and a stop at Clemson University on the day of a home football game. 80,000 fans  descend on the small town and campus for these games.

Last year's tour resulted in the arrests of five people including Bruce Evan Murch. After a year of legal wrangling, the charges were dropped when a federal court judge declared the permit laws of two other South Carolina cities to be unconstitutional. We are considering suing the city of Florence, SC, in order to force them to make a permanent change in their law, which thus far they have not done, despite the ruling in the other cases.

Our tradition street set-up is led by Aaron Murch (20) with Benjamin (18) and the rest of the family lined up behind.

In one city, we were immediately confronted by the Chief of Police, who told us there was a city ordinance on the size of signs, and that he was pretty sure we were in violation. He made a couple of cell phone calls to check it out. In the meantime, Bruce had discussed with him what we do and why we do it. He suggested that the sign ordinance probably had to do with fixed signs and the intent was to control commercial advertising not put a damper on free-speech activities. The Chief listened intently and soon the Building Inspector showed up (in charge of signs!?!). The Chief asked us how long we would be there, and we told him. In the meantime, several motorists, seeing the police, pulled into the parking lot where we were talking with police, in order to complain. The Chief could be overheard talking about "free speech" and we began to have some hope that he was not going to run us off.

LEFT: Beverly displays the grisly photo of a baby aborted at the 7th week of pregnancy, when most abortions are performed; little Josiah (5) hoists aloft the Christian flag. RIGHT: Elijah Murch is 7 now, and likes to hold his own sign.

LEFT: Steve Lefemine and Bruce Murch speak with the Chief of Police. RIGHT: Denny Green drives the Truth Truck into the intersection where his his son Caleb (14) preaches with the truth horn.

Soon, a man showed up and asked "who is charge of the demonstration"? The police pointed to Steve Lefemine and Bruce Murch, but kept an eye on him, unsure of what he was up to. The man explained that he was so glad we were out here, and that he was saved during the Operation Rescue movement. He was a part-time musician that had recorded a tape of pro-life songs and gave us a copy of the tape. All of this was being said in front of the Chief, who had been getting flak for letting us remain up until this point.

LEFT: Evan (10) is kept company by little brother Josiah (5) RIGHT: Lauren passes out literature to cars stopped at the light.

The Chief asked Bruce, "Is it always like this? I mean, people pulling over that are angry and others that support what you do?" Bruce told him that it was a regular feature of this work, and that this was relatively calm compared to some of the angry responses which were no doubt tempered by his (the Chief's) presence. The Chief let us stay to the end, and ended up thanking us for a well-executed event, and for our organization and demeanor. It was an excellent testimony to the police and the public, besides the uncompromised witness for the babies.

LEFT: Jesse Murch (13) preaches to cars stopped at the light while Lauren (16) and Aaron (20) line the street with signs. RIGHT: Ben Murch holds a sign in front of Chubby's Burgers where the manager had a "beef" with us being out there. Steve Lefemine explains the Constitution to our stout friend, who insisted he was "losing business" because of our presence. Of course, the lunch-time line was long going into the burger joint. He called the Police, who confirmed our right to be there, much to Chubby's chagrin.

At Clemson University, we were rousted by Clemson Police. At first, when Bruce set the Murch Family up on the main drag entering the stadium, he was approached by a plainclothes Clemson University officer. Bruce informed the officer that we were engaged in activities protected by the First Amendment on a public highway. He went and got the Campus Police Chief. The Chief basically told Bruce that they had to do whatever he said, "because I'm the Chief of Police and I said so!" Bruce insisted that the Chief tell him what law they were violating. First he said "you're disturbing the classes here at the University." Of course, it was a home football game and there were no classes. Then he claimed we were "trespassing". Bruce pointed out that we were on a public sidewalk on a public state highway, and that we would not leave. The Chief left.

LEFT: Sam Murch leads the line at Clemson University RIGHT: Students, already drinking and rowdy at 10:00 am, taunt and jeer at the Murch Family from their party perch.

A few minutes later the Assistant Chief showed up and told us that we were trespassing and that if we did not leave we would be arrested. He tried to confiscate the video camera that Ben Murch was using to record the incident. The Assistant chased him toward Bruce. Bruce took off running with the camera toward the State Police directing traffic at the intersection. Bruce Told the troopers that the campus police were trying to steal his private property. The Assistant Chief backed off and told Bruce to turn the camera off. Bruce pretended to, but actually left it on, and cradling it in his arm, recorded the ensuing harassment by the Clemson University Police Department, and their denial of the Murch Family's free speech and religious expression rights. This story will be continued, no doubt.

LEFT: The Murch Family is escorted by Clemson University police back to their van. Jesse, preaching to the crowd as we walk back to the van, is warned by the Assistant Chief to stop preaching. A son of his father (and his Father) he refuses. RIGHT: The Assistant Chief and another officer argue with Steve Lefemine, claiming "no one's rights have been violated here".