A man dressed as the Grinch took away the “Christmas magic” as he stood outside an elementary school and held a book signing reading, “Santa Claus is fake…Jesus is real.”
The man, who identified himself as David Harold Grisham, lined up outside the kindergarten entrance of Osuna Elementary School in New Mexico on Monday morning.
Grisham, 63, who belongs to a group called “street preachers,” was said to have spent up to 45 minutes outside of school, walking up and down the sidewalk.
His actions angered parents, who accused him of trying to ruin Christmas for their young and impressionable children. He was confronted by an angry person who took down his shield and tore it up.
“Doing this in front of little children and trying to destroy their wonder, destroy the magic of Christmas, makes my blood boil,” mother Hannah Dalton told television station KRQE.
A man dressed as the Grinch showed up at a New Mexico elementary school with a sign to tell children that Santa Claus isn't real
The man, who identified himself as David Harold Grisham, stood outside the kindergarten entrance of Osuna Elementary School Monday morning with the message
His actions angered the school's parents, who accused him of trying to ruin Christmas, and he was confronted by an angry person who took down his sign and tore it up
Grisham performed a similar stunt in front of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Amarillo, Texas, two weeks ago.
Video of the incident in New Mexico shows parents confronting Grisham. A person grabbed his sign from behind and told him, “Get this shit out of here.”
But the person accompanying Grisham and taking the recording tells him, “Don’t touch our stuff.”
The angry parent responds, “Damn bro, get out of here,” before tearing up the sign and throwing it to the ground.
A police officer intervenes to defuse the situation, telling her, “This is a disturbance. “He's shit with our kids.”
The officer then tells him that Grisham is on public property and there is nothing they can do.
But the man confronts him again and shouts: “Get out of here.”
In another clip, Grisham was asked if there was a better way to get the message out than outside of an elementary school.
“That’s a great opportunity, believe me,” Grisham replies, adding, “Jesus said go into all the world, including elementary schools, and preach the gospel to every preacher.”
Others ask the man why and he says, “If you believe that, then you should do it yourself.”
Grisham held up a sign that read, “Santa Claus is fake…Jesus is real” while appearing as the beloved Dr. Seuss character dressed up and greeted students as they entered the building
Video of the incident in New Mexico shows parents confronting Grisham. A person grabbed his sign from behind and told him, “Get this shit out of here.”
Grisham, 63, part of a group called “street preachers,” is said to have spent up to 45 minutes outside the school, walking up and down the sidewalk to spread the message
“Doing this in front of little children and trying to destroy their wonder, destroy the magic of Christmas, makes my blood boil,” mother Hannah Dalton told television station KRQE
Nancy Molina added, “It kind of pissed me off that you don't have anything better to do than get up at 7:30 in the morning and post in front of a kindergarten?”
Mother Nancy Molina said, “It kind of made me angry that you don't have anything better to do than get up at 7:30 in the morning and post in front of a kindergarten?”
“I have a kindergartener and she is really excited about the Christmas season and Santa Claus,” Molina said.
The school sent a letter to parents about the incident, explaining that district and school police could not intervene because the protester was on the public sidewalk.
Students were later directed away from the man dressed as the Grinch and to an alternate entrance.
“I am writing to inform you of an unfortunate incident that occurred outside our school this morning as students and families were arriving,” wrote Principal Hanna Myers.
“A person wearing a 'Grinch' costume and carrying a sign with a religious statement marched in front of our campus telling students and families that Santa Claus was fake.”
“The protest witnessed outside our school today is part of a nationwide movement.” While I respect freedom of speech and religion, I am saddened that some people believe it is okay to strengthen their faith by Mock children.
“No public display that frightens or traumatizes our students, staff or community members is acceptable.” “I have assured our students and staff that our campus is safe.”
Grisham pulled the same trick two weeks ago outside Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Amarillo, Texas
Grisham is known around Amarillo, Texas, for his ultra-religious protests, which he organizes as part of a group called “street preachers.”
Grisham – now retired – organized many demonstrations as an “official street preacher”.
Grisham posted a picture from New Mexico with the sign on Facebook and wrote, “If I had stood in front of this school with a sign saying Santa was real and Jesus was fake, there wouldn't have been such an uproar.”
“People who call themselves Christians will use violence to defend a nonexistent Santa Claus, but they won't lift a finger to defend the world that attacks Jesus. “Let that sink in.”
Grisham is known locally for being a nuisance in his hometown of Lone Star and other areas around Amarillo, Texas.
The self-proclaimed “street preacher” said his Christmas mission this year was to “shame Santa Claus.”
He has insisted that other Grinches would take to the streets to preach the same message as him.
Grisham defended his actions, telling : “I wear the costume because it's less scary for children while giving them the message that Santa is fake and Jesus is real.”
“Some of the kids in California even wanted to take photos with me.” It's the parents' angry overreaction that scares them.
“I’m tired of Santa usurping the glory of Christ at Christmas.”