Religious protesters briefly clash with Columbus Pride attendees. How did police respond?

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The 11th Colgay Pride Festival featured an altercation between supporters of Pride and religious protesters who were demonstrating at the event, prompting police response in an effort to de-escalate the situation.

Witnesses say the Pride parade was mostly peaceful until it neared the finish line. Parade goer Jaelynn Calain was in the processional and could see the protesters as they stood at the corner of Broadway and 12th Street.

“The parade goers smiled and waved at (the protesters) as they yelled slurs and Bible verses,” Calain said.

Tensions escalated, when Adam Cartner, a Lagrange preacher and activist clashed with one of the parade goers, Corey Steverson. The Ledger-Enquirer spoke to both men.

Religious activist, parade goer explain incident

Cartner, who can be seen in the video, often travels with a speaker, microphone and tripod. He says he frequently takes his preaching around the South and beyond to “go where ever we feel led” and the mission of his work is to “warn against sin and its consequences.”

He said he was at the parade to spread “the message of the gospel for everyone” but that he believes those who don’t listen will suffer consequences.

Cartner’s purpose collided with onlooker and festival participant Corey Steverson, who has a different recollection of the events following the parade than Cartner does. Cartner claims one of the other participants continued to bump and nudge protesters despite a statement from Columbus Police Department suggesting there was no physicality between the men. Steverson also says “no one was touched. No one was shoved.”

Steverson said the presence of the street preachers including Cartner was offensive.

“I don’t believe in allowing an uninterrupted platform for people who espouse language and rhetoric that has historically led to genocides,” Steverson told the Ledger-Enquirer. “Especially when they are utilizing the power and cover of their religion to do so.”

What videos reveal from incident

In a video provided to the Ledger-Enquirer, Steverson can be heard calling Cartner and his colleagues “fascists Nazis.” He defended that.

“We all a have a social responsibility to squash that kind of stuff when we hear it,” he said. “I know my actions and words may not be seen as reasonable or respectable to some, but fighting fascism (no matter what flavor) requires a diversity of tactics. And more importantly people willing to call it out.”

Cartner, who has his own YouTube channel, also sent the Ledger-Enquirer a much longer video of the day’s events, shot by his fellow preacher, Christian Jacobs that has garnered about 2,500 views. Steverson took issue with the tactics in both videos, decrying the methods as “bullying” and “preaching hate.”

Some members of the parade could be seen running ahead to attempt to stand in front of the onlooker with the PA system. Another attendee attempted to use a Pride flag to block signage containing condemning statements about the LGBTQ+ community.

Police were called to the scene to help stabilize the crowd and the protesters and they were successful, according to a spokesperson from the Columbus Police Department. Cartner commends the police for their assistance during the incident. He said he’s previously had mixed experiences with law enforcement.

Did Columbus religious protesters have a permit?

The Columbus Police Department said the religious protesters were given a permit to be there, “allowing them to exercise their right to free speech in a designated area.”

A public records request filed by the Ledger-Enquirer showed that Cartner applied for and received the permit.

Police said in a statement that no arrests were made in the altercation and Pride celebrations were able to continue afterward.

“Regarding the incident itself, there was a verbal dispute between the protesters and some festival attendees,” CPD said. “However, it is important to note that this dispute did not escalate into any physical altercations. Responding officers assessed the situation and took steps to diffuse the tension between the parties involved.

“The officer’s presence and intervention ensured that the situation remained peaceful.”

Ledger-Enquirer reporter Kelby Hutchison contributed to this story.

This story was originally published June 4, 2024 at 11:52 AM.