MONROE, N.C. — For more than a month, emotions have been expressed outside of a church in Monroe following a pastor’s comments about sexual assault during a sermon.
Every Sunday for weeks, community members in Monroe have stood outside Bible Baptist Tabernacle and stressed their concerns, following controversial remarks made by the pastor.
Easter Sunday was no exception.
Megan Tucker has been one community member who's consistently attended the protests. She said,
“We understand the importance of Easter Sunday and we don't want to give up and just go home just because it's a special holiday," Tucker told WCNC Charlotte.
Callie Price was also outside the church protesting.
“Where's the accountability?" Price questioned. "That's what we're looking for is accountability. We want people in power to give a crap about this. We want some reaction.”
Emotions remain high after Pastor Bobby Leonard said during a sermon that women make themselves targets for sexual assault based on how they dress, stating he wouldn't vote to convict a man who's accused of raping a woman if she wore shorts.
“We want to make sure that he knows it's not acceptable to say these things from the pulpit,” Tucker said.
More questions are being raised after community members learned the school connected with the church, Tabernacle Christian School, has received over $900,000 in 2023 and 2024 in public taxpayer funds through a state voucher program.
“They're taking money away from children in our community that really need it, the people who, you know, are impoverished and don't have the resources," Price said.
The state voucher program is also a program North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper questions.
Governor Cooper recently posted a video on X referencing the school and voucher program.
Community members throughout Union County are calling for action and are prepared to keep light on the issue until something is done.
“We want to show everyone that we're serious about our commitment to getting accountability from Pastor Leonard," Tucker said.
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.