UPDATE: GoFundMe account raises more than $250,000 for Walkerton Restaurant
Posted: Thu 7:58 PM, Apr 02, 2015
Jess Dooley's
tweet in reaction
o a Walkerton r
estaurant's statements.
tweet in reaction
o a Walkerton r
estaurant's statements.
WALKERTON, Ind. -- A business
in Walkerton is getting national attention and backlash following its statements and stance on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
in Walkerton is getting national attention and backlash following its statements and stance on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Memories Pizza is on the record saying it wouldn't cater gay weddings, and that stance has gone viral online.
.
“I don’t have a problem with gay people, I do not condone gay marriage and that’s what I said,” co-owner Kevin O’Connor explained to The Daily Beast. “I don’t turn anybody away from the store, I don’t have a problem with gay people. I just don’t condone the marriage.”
Co-owner Crystal O'Connor talked with TheBlaze TV Wednesday evening.
"I don't know if we will re-open," she said when asked about the backlash the business has received. She also said her family is considering leaving town. "We're in hiding, basically."
"We're very hurt and confused," she added. "We stood up for what we believe. We said we would serve anyone who walked in the door -- even gays -- but we would not condone a wedding, we would not cater for it because that's against our religious beliefs."
, we would not cater for it because that's against our religious beliefs."
Local reaction
Walkerton residents expressed feelings both in support and against the shop's decision.
and against the shop's decision.
"I support fully what they're doing," Brandon Dickson of Walkerton said. "I think it's everybody's opinion on what they want to do. If they don't want to serve those types of people you know? I'm sorry about their luck but that's their right. You can be gay all you want. I don't believe in it. It's my belief, you know
. I don't want to see it. That's about all there is to that. It's my opinion and my belief. I believe
it's a choice."
. I don't want to see it. That's about all there is to that. It's my opinion and my belief. I believe
it's a choice."
When asked about his choice of heterosexuality Dickson said, "I like girls, man. I've never
liked the same sex in that way and what they do I don't find appropriate. Two sexes shouldn't
be together."
liked the same sex in that way and what they do I don't find appropriate. Two sexes shouldn't
be together."
"The law is one that is being misinterpreted," David Vermillion of Walkerton said. "It's not, from
my perspective, the governor's idea that we should encourage discrimination but rather what
the bill is truly intended for; freedom for people who do take their religion seriously."
my perspective, the governor's idea that we should encourage discrimination but rather what
the bill is truly intended for; freedom for people who do take their religion seriously."
Memories Pizza sees outpouring of support on GoFundMe
More than $14,000 was raised in under an hour on GoFundMe by supporters of Memories Pizza.
The page was set up by TheBlaze.!
The page was set up by TheBlaze.!
That message was originally tweeted at 9:08 p.m. Tuesday night.
"The individual is a lay coach, meaning she is not employed by Concord as a teacher,"
Concord Schools Superintendent Wayne Stubbs told NewsCenter 16 in an email Wednesday
. "She is, however, one of our assistant softball coaches. She is currently suspended from that
position pending an investigation."
Concord Schools Superintendent Wayne Stubbs told NewsCenter 16 in an email Wednesday
. "She is, however, one of our assistant softball coaches. She is currently suspended from that
position pending an investigation."
A number of viewers sent NewsCenter 16 a screenshot of Dooley's tweet. Her Twitter account
has since been deleted.
accounthas since been deleted.
Thursday, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor released the following statement:
"The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office has received police reports from the Walkerton
Police Department regarding an alleged Twitter statement made on March 31, 2015, in which
the poster talks about burning down Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana. Any prosecutor's
office takes allegations of threatened criminal action seriously, regardless of the reasons for the
statement. However, the Office has reviewed the reports and has determined that further
investigation is required. This requested further investigation includes the authentication of the
poster's identification, IP address, etc.
Police Department regarding an alleged Twitter statement made on March 31, 2015, in which
the poster talks about burning down Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana. Any prosecutor's
office takes allegations of threatened criminal action seriously, regardless of the reasons for the
statement. However, the Office has reviewed the reports and has determined that further
investigation is required. This requested further investigation includes the authentication of the
poster's identification, IP address, etc.
Statement from Walkerton police
The Walkerton Police Department sent out the following statement Wednesday afternoon:
The Walkerton Police Department is committed to extending professional police services to
all in need, regardless of said person’s sexual, religious, or political views. We encourage all
to follow Indiana Laws and Statutes. We ask that all frustrations and rebuttals with Memories
Pizza’s recent media statements remain within the law.
Questions have arisen based upon Jessica Dooley’s twitter comment “Who’s going to
Walkerton with me to burn down Memories Pizza”. The Walkerton Police Department has
finished an investigation into this statement and submitted a case to the St. Joseph County
Prosecutors office for possible charging of harassment, intimidation, and threats.
Walkerton with me to burn down Memories Pizza”. The Walkerton Police Department has
finished an investigation into this statement and submitted a case to the St. Joseph County
Prosecutors office for possible charging of harassment, intimidation, and threats.
Once again, the Walkerton Police Department urges all to follow Indiana State law! Any and
all violations of Indiana State Statue will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. If you
have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
all violations of Indiana State Statue will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. If you
have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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