Evangelical Rally Draws Thousands To Madison

A national evangelical leader told a crowd of thousands outside the Wisconsin state Capitol on Wednesday that they need to elect people who believe in the Bible.

“Vote for candidates who stand for Biblical truth,” said the Rev. Franklin Graham, who is the son of the iconic televangelist the Rev. Billy Graham. “We need men and women today in high places who will honor almighty God.”

Graham’s appearance in Madison came under more scrutiny this week following the mass shooting at a gay night club in Orlando, Florida, that left 50 dead. Graham said he believes homosexuality is a sin.

He opened his remarks with a prayer for the victims of the shooting, but speaking to reporters afterward, Graham said the killing was a “symptom” of an America in decline.

“I don’t think anybody disagrees that our country is not in trouble. It is in trouble. We just saw what happened in Orlando,” Graham said. “The largest mass shooting in American history. This is sad. It breaks my heart. We have become a godless nation.”

The shooting, Graham said, was a sign that “God is withdrawing his hand of blessing from our country.”

Atheists and gay rights activists protested Graham’s appearance. Annie-Laurie Gaylor, with the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, said it was tone deaf for Graham to hold his rally so soon after the Orlando shooting. Gaylor said his remarks promoted hatred and misinformation that the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation.

“It’s a pernicious myth that we fight all the time at the Freedom From Religion Foundation because we are predicated on a godless and secular constitution,” Gaylor said. “So, everyday we are dealing with lies and distortions like this that create a lot of harm.”

Graham was in Madison as part of his “Decision America Tour 2016,” which is making stops in all 50 states. He described himself as a former member of the Republican Party and isn’t officially endorsing any of the candidates for president.