Monday, June 28, 1999
Gay pride flag burned at capitol in protest
Statehouse scuffle leads to 2 arrests
BY DAVID GILLIGAN
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS — Two protesters were arrested Sunday at the Statehouse after one of them took down the rainbow flag that represents gay rights and burned it, authorities said.
Charles Spingola, 43, of Newark, Ohio, and Donald Richardson, 63, of London, Ohio, were taken into custody during an altercation between the protesters and gay-rights advocates, said Lt. John Born of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Mr. Spingola, accused of taking down the flag and burning it, has been charged with rioting, criminal damaging and disorderly conduct. Mr. Richardson has been charged with disorderly conduct and misconduct in an emergency, said a Franklin County Municipal Court clerk who declined to give her name.
Messrs. Spingola and Richardson were released from the Franklin County jail on bond and are to be arraigned today, the clerk said.
Lt. Born said he was still taking statements from the 30 to 40 gay-rights supporters and the 20 to 30 protesters. No other arrests were made.
The incident, reported about 1 p.m., occurred a few hours after the gay-rights flag was hoisted at the state capitol building as part of a celebration of gay pride in Columbus.
WCMH-TV reported that someone climbed the pole to get the flag.
Most of the protesters were members of the Coalition of Bible Believing Churches, a group from various central Ohio churches, said protester Steve Bro, 29, of Waverly, Ohio.
The group said it burned the flag in protest of the homosexual lifestyle, which they believe is denounced in the Bible.
The gay-rights supporters dispersed shortly after the altercation and were not immediately available for interviews outside the capitol.
The capitol has featured flags before honoring dignitaries, professional sports teams and various charities, but this is the first time the flag symbolizing gay rights was flown.
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