Emboldened by the current Christian nationalist administration, MAGA supporters have been more belligerent than ever during this Pride Month.
A sampling of the messages MAGA’s sending Greg Schmelig.
At 1:19 a.m. Sunday, security cameras at Parkway United Church of Christ captured an individual laughing while tearing down eight Pride sails displayed on church property. Greg Schmelig, who serves the church in several capacities, shared the footage on social media, where it quickly drew applause from segments of MAGA world.
Many of the same people who excused Donald Trump’s “grab ’em by the pussy” comments, defended the January 6 attack on police officers, sided with powerful figures over victims in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and condemned Pope Francis for speaking on behalf of the poor now find themselves celebrating the vandalism of a church. Yet they appear so consumed by tribal loyalty that they continue to see themselves as occupying the moral high ground.
Since posting the video, Schmelig says he has been inundated with an unusual mix of responses. Some have attempted to justify the vandalism, others have mocked him and the church, and many have simultaneously demanded that the perpetrator not be prosecuted.
“There are so many who are full of vitriol and hate,” Schmelig said. “I was especially shocked by one comment from someone whose post featured a millstone and who implied that’s what our pastor deserved. I took that as a reference to having a millstone tied around his neck and being thrown into the sea as punishment. It’s just sad.”
While Schmelig has vowed to prosecute in his post, he says what he actually wants is a dialogue and for the vandals to put the sails back up. But that’s not the world we’re living in. MAGA parents have raised a generation to celebrate bullying, racism, homophobia, and above all else, trolling. A generation that doesn’t know the difference between the cross and Trump’s golden toilet.
God help us all.
