A demonstration is to be held opposing a controversial American evangelist coming to Liverpool.
In less than two weeks time, Franklin Graham, the son of US preacher Billy Graham and a close friend of former president Donald Trump, will take to the stage at ACC Liverpool as part of his hotly contested God Loves You tour. Ahead of the event on Saturday 14th May, opponents of the tour are to gather at Gower Street near to the venue to stage a demonstration.
On its Facebook page, community group Everton Together said Liverpool is an “open and inclusive city” that opposes Mr Graham’s views. It said: “Join us to peacefully protest the Franklin Graham Event that will be taking place at 7pm that evening.
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“Franklin Graham has been allowed to use the venue and has called Islam evil, attacked laws increasing rights for transgender people, and told his followers that the legalisation of same-sex marriage was orchestrated by Satan. Graham is on record stating celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride is like celebrating lying, adultery, or murder.
“Liverpool is an open and inclusive city that has a long history of standing against hate speech. Please come and bring your flags and banners.”
The confirmation of the demonstration comes just days after Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram wrote to bus operators demanding they take down “inexcusable” adverts promoting Mr Graham’s tour. Mayor Rotheram has contacted the bosses of Arriva and Stagecoach, asking for the immediate removal of the adverts from their fleets and branded Mr Graham a “hate preacher” who directs “bigotry and bile”.
ACC Liverpool had previously attempted to cancel the booking by Billy Graham Evangelist Association (BGEA), which intended to come to the city as part of its tour run in 2020. At that time, ACC said it had been made aware of “a number of statements which we consider to be incompatible with our values.”
However, BGEA successfully launched a challenge against the cancellation of the event and an agreement between the two sides was reached, allowing the event to be rescheduled to next month. In a statement, a spokesperson for ACC Liverpool said that since confirming the booking with BGEA, it was made aware of statements made by Mr Graham that it does not “support or condone” which led to its challenge of the event.
The statement added: “Since that time we have been in conversation with BGEA regarding our respective concerns and how best to reach a resolution, to ensure the rights and interests of all communities, groups and individuals are respected. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion applies to everyone and The ACC Liverpool Group strives to operate venues in which views can be safely and lawfully expressed without prejudice to any protected characteristics."
ACC Liverpool said it had received “satisfactory assurances” from the organisers of the event that The Reverend Franklin Graham’s message will not be “discriminatory, disrespectful or negative towards any particular communities, groups or individuals.” The statement added that ACC Liverpool had sought to engage with stakeholders and representatives within the local LGBTQ+ community who we know take issue with some statements attributed to Reverend Franklin Graham and have opposed the event taking place in the city.
“We are committed to further engagement with these important and valued community groups and representatives and are setting up a Community Advisory Group to ensure we have a formalised process in which to engage with a diverse and inclusive range of stakeholders and groups across our local community.”
