Chula Vista Holiday Festival To Kick Off This Week; Jesus Christ Dancers Allowed Onstage
The city of Chula Vista will hold its annual celebration starting Wednesday, one year after a public outcry and a lawsuit involving the city's banning of "The Jesus Christ Dancers." The dancers, a group of kids ages ranging from eight to 12-years-old, say they were told they could not perform in the 2005 event because their shirts said "Jesus Christ Dancers." The kids were standing by to go onstage when they found out they would be barred from performing.
But the Christian hip-hop dancers were able to take the stage last Saturday as part of the opening-week ceremonies.
The outcry over last year's incident frustrated people all over the nation, not the least of whom were the parents of the young performers. An eyewitness to the event and a father of one of dancers, Al Reyes, told WORLDNETDAILY at the time that he questioned the supervisor's decision. Reyes told the online news service that Gates was asked about a Hawaiian dance group that, according to Reyes, performed "Feliz Navidad," "The First Noel," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and a Hawaiian prayer song that was sung in another language. After challenging a city representative on this point, Reyes said Gates told him that, "I don't understand those songs, but I do understand what those shirts say."
The dance group's instructor Lita Ramirez said she had made it clear to the city ahead of time that this was a Christian hip-hop dance group and that they would perform a Christian hip-hop dance. Ramirez tells SCCN that the city attorney is the one who invited the dancers back for the 2006 festival.
The Jesus Christ Dancers group is sponsored by Calvary Christian Academy and is associated with Calvary Chapel of Chula Vista.
At the time, organizers said they did not want ot show a religous preference. But the City of Chula Vista later announced it would provide annual "First Amendment training" to police officers and all other employees as part of a lawsuit settlement connected to this incident. The city also decided to draft a clear policy for future festivals. Mayor Steven Padilla apologized for barring the dancers.
The Holiday Festival kicks off December 3 at 2:30 on Third Avenue and Parkway. The 41st Annual Starlight Yule Parade begins at 5:30 and will run from H Street to E Street in downtown Chula Vista.
ON THE WEB:
This is the day the Lord hath made; he calls the hours his own.
Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad, and praise surround the throne.
I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope. Romans 15:13
