It's Illegal to Disrupt a Pagan Ritual

State law in North Carolina forbids anyone -- including "Christian" protestors -- from disrupting or interfering with a religious service or assembly. That means any protestor who shows up at a Witches' ritual and shouts Bible verses, sings hymns, proselytizes, or in any other way harasses or intimidates people attending the rite WILL BE SUBJECT TO ARREST & PROSECUTION.

The law reads as follows:

North Carolina General Statutes:
14-288.4. Disorderly conduct.
(a) Disorderly conduct is a public disturbance
intentionally caused by any person who:
...
(7) Disrupts, disturbs, or interferes with a religious
service or assembly or engages in conduct which
disturbs the peace or order at any religious
service or assembly.
...
(b) Any person who willfully engages in disorderly conduct is
guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1969, c. 869, s. 1; 1971, c.
668, s. 1; 1973, c. 1347; 1975, c. 19, s. 4; 1983, c. 39, s. 5;
1987, c. 671, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 189; 1994, Ex. Sess., c.
24, s. 14(c); 2001-26, s. 2.)

It's also against state law to burn down a ritual space or temple. If a religious bigot sets fire to a building Witches or Pagans use as a meeting place, he can be charged with a felony over and above arson.

NCGS 14-62.2. Burning of churches and certain other religious
buildings.
If any person shall wantonly and willfully set fire to or
burn or cause to be burned, or aid, counsel or procure the
burning of any church, chapel, or meetinghouse, the person shall
be punished as a Class E felon. (1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c.
751, s. 3.)

Most states have similar laws. Contact your local ACLU, consult an attorney, or search your government's website to find out your state's laws against religious persecution and harassment, and POST THEM PROMINENTLY to warn off anti-Pagan preacher types. Insist that police enforce the law if your rite or ritual space is disrupted or threatened.

There exists at least one national organization of "street preachers" who believe it is their God-given mission to shout hate speech in public places against Witches, gays, peace protestors, Mormons, people attending arts festivals ... just about everyone seems to be on their list. They often carry signs proclaiming "God Hates You" (no kidding!).

Return to General Information table of contents.

Return to Coven Oldenwilde's home page.