{"id":60233,"date":"2021-06-28T08:34:32","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T13:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=60233"},"modified":"2021-06-28T08:34:38","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T13:34:38","slug":"%ef%bb%bfprotesters-gather-outside-event-thursday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=60233","title":{"rendered":"\ufeffProtesters gather outside event Thursday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By JUSTIN SABATA<\/strong>
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Thursday\u2019s heated climate was symbolic of the events that occurred on Main Street in Hays that evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At approximately 5 p.m., protesters began to gather across the street from a presentation that was due to begin in an hour — a private event at The Fox Theatre titled \u201cUnderstanding the Threat: Strategic and Operational Training & Consulting on the Threat of the Global Islamic Movement.\u201d
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The presenter was former Kansas House of Representatives member Peggy Mast, who served 20 years in the state legislature. She was invited to come to Hays from the Ellis County Patriots. The Ellis County Patriots are currently not an official group. The idea for the name came from Mast after event coordinator Ramona Herman contacted her.
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\u201cI asked her (Mast) what I should call myself, and she said \u2018The Ellis County Patriots,’ \u201d Herman said. \u201cAnd so, I\u2019d really like to get a group started.\u201d
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Herman described how she first heard about the former representative. 
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\u201cSomeone told me to go listen to this lady (Mast), so I did,\u201d Herman said. \u201cAnd I was so excited about what she said ’cause it was everything I believed in.\u201d
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Controversy surrounded the event due to the possible anti-Islamic rhetoric that came with it. Mast said she does not hold any animosity towards the Islamic community.
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\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a prejudice against any people,\u201d she said. \u201cI found that I have no problem with, you know, any sect.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0
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The protesters across the street did not believe the sentiments of the presenter. Hays resident Jacob Alexander participated in the demonstration and explained his views of the presentation. 
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\u201cI\u2019m a biracial individual who goes to Fort Hays (State University) and, you know, tries to actively participate in the community,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cAnd I think that, you know, the event that\u2019s taking place across the street from us right now is a little bit bigoted and, you know, rooted in hate.\u201d
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Rachel Moravek echoed similar views when explaining why she was protesting.
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\u201c(Because) this is my home and I love it,\u201d Moravek said. \u201cAnd there\u2019s no room for hate here.\u201d
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Moravek also stated her concern with the number of young people leaving Hays.
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\u201cTo be honest, I think the biggest threat facing this community is all of the young leaders leaving because they don\u2019t want to be here anymore,\u201d Moravek said. \u201cBecause they don\u2019t feel like it\u2019s the place for them and they relocate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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