James Coppoc, an AUCC congregant with two school-aged children, wrote in a victim impact statement for Martinez's sentencing that his attack on the church has tinged the churchgoing experience with 'fear that no child should have to carry and no parent should have to navigate.” 'It is toxic and forces (queer people) to deal with hatred on their own.”Įven among AUCC's non-LGBTQ congregants, the flag burning stoked fears of violence. It gave many members in central Iowa a feeling of safety where the passive-aggressive attitude of 'Iowa nice” prevails. The flag had for years been a symbol in Ames that people were welcomed and loved at the church, Gebbie said. It's a blessing from the Lord,” Martinez told the station. When police questioned him at the scene, Martinez admitted to everything and said a church should not be supporting LGBTQ people.ĭays after the arrest, Martinez told CBS 8 in Des Moines, 'I'm guilty as charged.” ‘I burned down their pride,' Martinez saidĭespite pleading not guilty to the charges, Martinez never denied what he did.
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But I will not let that hate define my relationship with him.” An attack wouldn't shake their belief in love and inclusion, she said. Gebbie and the church were targeted for what they believe. Acts of violence against churches, like the 2015 massacre at the historically black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., were on Gebbie's mind. Some congregants saw the crime as an act of vandalism - 'it's just a banner” - while others felt scared to come to church, she said. AUCC is the oldest church in Ames, and has been a 'welcoming and affirming” house of worship for queer, questioning and interfaith people for nearly two decades. The attack rankled congregants in the 225-person congregation, where Gebbie estimates 15 percent of the church body identifies as LGBTQ. You will begin to receive our Daily Courts & Public Safety updates.
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Police say Martinez yanked the flag down, dragged it back to the club's parking lot, doused it with lighter fluid and set it on fire.
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Martinez made the short walk to the church, where above the door hung a multicolored pride flag printed with the message, 'God is still speaking.” Outside, he told one of the bar's patrons, who he knew was transgender, that he was going to 'burn their banner,” according to police records. The night of Martinez's arrest, he was kicked out of Dangerous Curves, a bar and strip club a block away from AUCC.
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Given that Martinez had a lengthy history of harassment and felony offenses and showed no remorse, Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds suggested the maximum possible sentence, to which the judge agreed.ĭuring the trial, Gebbie said Martinez would reference her directly, sometimes describing her appearance, other times saying his actions weren't about her, yet affirming his belief that as a lesbian, she was a problem.Īs he was led away after sentencing, Martinez addressed her one last time. On Wednesday, Martinez was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison on convictions of committing a hate crime, third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire as a habitual offender.