By Michael Hernandez
TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA—The Citizens Journal learned today that despite Facebook and Google censoring the October Non-Essential event; more than 7 million from all States and even other countries; have seen the replay on at least 30 alternative internet platforms with the event’s organizer expecting that number to double before Election Day on Nov. 3.
An additional 6,000 attended the in-person church service held at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California with people lining up as early as six hours before the event and coming from many other California counties (even from Northern California) beside San Bernardino County. The city of 75,000 borders Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside County.
Approximately 17,000 individuals saw the two-and-one-half hour event live on Oct. 18 which featured worship leader Danny Gokey; seven speakers; and a panel of four speakers moderated by Calvary Chapel Chino Hills Pastor Jack Hibbs.
(Editor’s Note: To see coverage of the event by Citizens Journal go to:
https://www.citizensjournal.us/over-five-thousand-attend-millions-watch-non-essential-event/.)
“We expected 32 million followers (but we only got 17,000) because we were blocked from our accounts,” said Non-Essential organizer Ryan Higgins who opened up the event and was assisted by Kirk Cameron, who spoke about the National Monument to the Forefathers in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
“We saw censorship of our live feed. We’ve been told that the blocking will continue until after the election.” Higgins reported to The Citizens Journal that both Facebook and YouTube platforms were impacted by the censorship and shadow banning. “We were censored and fact checked for spreading disinformation. But liberal ideology is rarely fact-checked.
“The Non-Essential Event was born out of a need and by our frustrations as Christians in America. Our faith has been deemed nonessential by local and state officials. But worship, singing, police, and life in the womb of a mother are all essential.” Our churches are essential, said Higgins, who is based out of Florida and worked on Ben Carson’s National Faith Initiative during his 2016 presidential run and then with My Faith Votes.
“Our founding fathers believed in the First Amendment—freedom of speech (freedom of religion, freedom of the press). Our First Amendment rights are disappearing. In reality, they are gone. This very important right (we have) is gone. It is going to take a fight” to win it back.
Participants or viewers were encouraged to organize or participate in Non-Essential Peaceful Protests before Election Day. Some 150 have been planned across America with 12 listed (five from California) on the website:
- (Oct. 30) Whitter: Uptown Business District: 7000 Greenleaf Ave. (6 p.m.)
- (Oct. 31) Chino Hills: 3225 Grand Ave. (12 p.m.)
- (Nov. 1) San Diego: Waterfront Park (12 p.m.)
- (Nov. 1) Redlands: The Lincoln Memorial Shrine (3 p.m.)
- (Nov. 1) Temecula: City Hall (5:30 p.m.)
To learn more go to: nonessential.live/learn-more
Speakers for the Non-Essential event included: Dr. Dan Erickson, owner of Accelerated Urgent Care in Bakersfield (Kern County); Godspeak Pastor Rob McCoy; Cissie Graham Lynch, the granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham; David Harris, Jr., founder and CEO of Uncorked Health & Wellness and host of a popular podcast; Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point; Kirk Cameron, “Growing Pains” star; Dinesh D’Souza, author of 15 books and filmmaker of two documentaries.
Non-Essential event participants and viewers were challenged by Ryan Higgins, to support the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as they provide law enforcement weekend retreats.
“Besides the military, law enforcement is the only profession that trains every day to die. We need your prayer for the police,” said a video supporting the project. (Note: To contribute to the weekend retreats you can go to: BillyGraham.org/essential).
The Non-Essential event was preceded by a Freedom Sunday event Oct. 11 at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. At this event, Pastor Jack Hibbs challenged U.S. pastors to open their doors to in-person church services. (Editor’s Note: See Citizens Journal story:
https://www.citizensjournal.us/calvary-pastor-jack-hibbs-challenges-u-s-pastors-open-your-doors-oct-25th-the-people-of-god-want-to-go-t . To see a Citizens Journal story on Christian leaders sharing their response to COVID-19 at the Freedom Sunday event: https://www.citizensjournal.us/eight-christian-leaders-share-their-response-to-covid-19-at-freedom-sunday/.)
Michael Hernandez, Co-Founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service; editor of the History Makers Report and founder of History Makers International—a community nonprofit serving youth and families in Ventura County, is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. He worked 25 years as a middle school teacher in Monrovia and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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