South Carolina Show the Truth Tour

This tour was organized by Steve Lefemine, Constitution Party Congressional Candidate and founder of Columbia Christians for Life. The Murch Family joined the tour for only two days as a result of the fact that we are moving on September 1st. More on the move in the next Murch Family News page.

FIVE ARRESTED!!

Our first stop was in Florence, South Carolina on Wednesday, August 14th. It was a small tour of about 30 people including our family of eleven. We spread out in four directions from the intersection of Irby and Palmetto Streets.

Steve Lefemine had given the cities two days notice that we were coming and how long we would be there. He also sent them a letter from an attorney group outlining our rights to conduct the activities. When we arrived, police were already swarming the neighborhood. The Murch Family lined up one side of the street and began fielding the usual objections from local shop and restaurant owners.

Left, Jesse Murch (12); Right Evan (8) and his brother Ben (17)  with Lauren (15) in the background

Bruce Evan Murch and Denny Green of Life and Liberty Ministries joined Steve as he argued with the Chief of Police. The Chief was insisting that we needed a "parade permit" stand with our signs on the sidewalk. He insisted that the permit would be granted, but that we must have prior permission to assemble and demonstrate on public property. Steve pointed out that we already have permission in the first amendment protections of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, and that any town ordinance that would infringe on that right would be unconstitutional. They insisted that we were making a "big deal" out of "nothing". When Bruce told one officer that the Constitution must mean nothing to him, he replied "I don't care what's in the Constitution, we have this law--right here in black and white!" So there we have it.

The Chief of Police went back to the station and picked up a copy of the "parade permit" that he was requiring us to sign. In a big show before the media, the Chief read the provisions of the permit law and asked Steve to sign it. Like the Three Hebrews Boys refusing to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's statue, Steve repeated he could not be required to seek permission for that which he already HAS permission to do. The Chief ordered him arrested, handcuffed and put in the back of the squad car. He then ordered the arrest of anyone who would not leave. Bruce and Denny quickly gave orders to their family members and organized someone to coordinate the activities after the arrests had taken place.

Steve Lefemine is offered a pen by Florence Police Chief to sign the "parade permit". Steve once again argues that he does not need prior government approval to exercise his first amendment-protected rights. He is promptly arrested and put in a squad car. One by one, four more are arrested for refusing to bow to the city in their insistence that we must have their permission before we are able to peaceably assemble or speak.

Arrested were: Steve Lefemine, Director of Columbia (SC) Christians for Life; Bruce Evan Murch; Dennis Green of Life and Liberty Ministries in Petersburg, Virginia; Dave Lytle, 83-year-old retired veteran of the Merchant Marine from Lynchburg, Virginia; Linda Beckman, 62-year-old retiree who travels extensively on pro-life tours, from Phoenixville, PA.

Bruce Evan Murch is arrested after refusing to leave the sidewalk with a sign. He calls out some last minute instructions to his son. Jail guards refused to give Bruce his asthma medicine while he was suffering an asthma attack because "we're not medical personnel". It took over forty minutes before Bruce was allowed to use the common inhaler which they had in their possession.

83-year-old Dave Lytle is arrested after insisting that he has the Constitutional right to be on the public sidewalk without prior permission from the city government;  Denny Green makes the same argument and is ignored by police as they attempt to arrest him. He simply sits down and refuses to leave. Police are forced to carry him to the paddy wagon.

Let us make something clear: We allowed ourselves to be arrested for a distinct purpose. The only way to fight this sort of illegal town ordinance is to defy it and take it to court. If we had failed to do this, other towns in S.C. would be emboldened to pass similar ordinances to prevent us from showing the truth about the horrors of abortion.

What followed in the treatment of those arrested followed the kind of stereotype that the South has been trying to overcome. We were kept handcuffed behind our backs in the backs of squad cars for about a half hour. After that we were into a paddy wagon and driven 12 miles away to the County Detention facility. Bear in mind that they could have just written us a ticket and been done with it. But they wanted a raw show of power. When we arrived at the County Jail, we were kept in handcuffs inside the jail through the entire booking process. We were then put in the "drunk tank". We remained in there for about two hours and were brought back out. At this point we were put in shackles and leg irons, with a chain around our waist locking our handcuffs in front of us. We were transported back the 12 miles to the city court and waited to be heard by a Magistrate for a bail hearing.

Paddywagon transports the "Florence Five" to the County Jail

The judge released us on a "custodial bond". This meant that a local woman from the group would be liable for $1,000 for each of the five of us if we failed to show up in court. OK. We're released, right? WRONG!! In spite of the fact that the papers were all signed and the judge released us, we were kept in shackles and leg irons, transported back the 12 miles to the county jail to be "un-booked"! Of those of us who were arrested, having been active in Operation Rescue and collectively arrested well over 100 times, nobody could ever remember remaining in custody after having been released by a judge. While waiting to be "un-booked" we watched the evening news on the TV. The coverage was actually good. It featured Beverly Murch and the children, with Bev, in tears, decrying what had happened to a country that arrests people on the street for telling the truth about abortion.

Finally, at about 7:00 pm., we were released from the jail. We had been held for 6 1/2 hours, and kept in handcuffs or shackles for 4 1/2 of those hours. All because we dared speak out for the babies on the public sidewalks of of Florence, South Carolina!

Folks, it's way past time to WAKE UP! This is happening right here in America. Christians are being arrested for simply showing pictures of the horrors of abortion. Preachers are being arrested for preaching the Gospel on the public streets of America!

Please pray for us as we press on in the battle.

If you can help Full Quiver Mission right now in this crucial time, it would be greatly appreciated. The Murch family just took a devastating financial blow, losing $1,000 per month of income from work generated by Beverly and Aaron. They always trust God to meet their needs, and have been faithful stewards of what He has provided. If you can help, please send to:

Beverly Murch, PO Box 68, Red House, VA 23963

All Glory to God and His Son Jesus Christ!!

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