A pastor arrested Monday for protesting Warner Robins High School's "Demon" nickname and mascot says he was just standing up for Jesus — and he'd do it again.Pastor Donald Crosby said the school's demon logo just encourages children to evil. "I don't scare easily. Lock me up as many times as you have to lock me up. Even kill me if you have to. I'm standing up for Jesus."
He criticized other Christians who, he says, are singing in church while their children are being taught to praise demons. "Demons aren't lazy, Christians are," he said.
Warner Robins police spokeswoman Tabitha Pugh says the 36-year-old Crosby was arrested after police told him he didn't have a picketing permit, as required by the city. Crosby and the group protested outside the school on the opening day of classes.
Warner Robins police say they tried to work with the pastor to make the protest legal. Pugh said, "Our officers asked him several times, it wasn't just once, several times to leave the property and go and obtain a permit, to say they can legally and lawfully protest."
She says officers asked Crosby and the group to leave. Crosby refused and was arrested, she says. Pugh says Crosby is charged with picketing without a permit and disorderly conduct for not leaving when asked. Crosby was released from the Houston County jail on bond.
Greg Green says he was dropping his daughter off for the first day of classes at Rumble Academy around 7:10 a.m. when he saw about 30 protesters outside the front of the high school. Green says some of the signs said things like, "Demons don't like me, because I'm Christian", and "Home games will have to be played in hell."