A rogue Tesco manageress has used the police to try to stop Christians giving out leaflets outside her store about Tesco’s £30,000 support of this year’s ‘London Gay Pride’.
Christian Voice member Raj Bhachoo was arrested in Gravesend on 21st January 2012 outside the Tesco Metro after the manageress called the police.
Raj, a Christian convert from Sikhism, appeared at Dartford Magistrates Court yesterday. A trial date was set for 24th September. He was acquitted just over two weeks ago in Camberwell in a separate case involving an email he sent to Stonewall.
No other Christian Voice activist has reported any problem at all giving out the Tesco leaflets. Christian Voice National Director Stephen Green has not only given out the leaflets outside two Tescos near Baker Street in London, but also outside the very Tesco Metro in Gravesend where Raj was arrested, precisely two weeks after his arrest.
Stephen Green reports:
‘For Dartford Magistrates to set a trial date instead of dismissing the case is a surprise. Christians have freedom to preach the word on the streets, even if it offends homosexuals. Christian preacher Michael Overd, whom I supported, was recently acquitted in Taunton. Raj was acquitted in Camberwell.
‘I and two Christian Voice ladies gave out 400 Tesco leaflets right outside the Gravesend Tesco on Saturday 4th February. We gave the police prior notice that this was what we were going to do. Again, the manageress came out and again she was abusive and again she called the police. But in my case the police came, walked past me, went inside Tesco, and engaged in conversation with the staff for what seemed like half-an-hour.
‘Eventually, having given out all our leaflets and getting tired of standing around in the cold, I had to go into Tesco and actually ask the police if I was going to be arrested. Receiving the answer ‘No’, I and the ladies left.
‘South Wales Police arrested and charged me in similar circumstances in 2006, only for the case to collapse on grounds of freedom of expression, whereupon I sued SWP and won. Possibly, being aware of that, Kent Police have taken the view that they can bully Raj but not me. My case did not even come to trial, but even though a trial date has been set, Raj will be acquitted.
‘Clearly, Tesco staff in Gravesend do not believe in freedom of speech, but drafting in the police is counter-productive and heavy-handed. Such a problem has not been experienced anywhere else, and I call on the Tesco Chief Executive, Philip Clarke, to send a message to all his stores that we prize freedom of speech in this country and that a more mature approach is called for which does not waste police time every time a protest turns up on the doorstep.’
Tesco’s announcement of sponsorship of the 2012 London Gay Pride just weeks before Christmas and their promotion of homosexuality within the store was a severe error of judgment. Lack of judgment also meant their September ‘big price drop’ was a ‘big cost flop’. Their market share and their profits nose-dived over Christmas, the only one of the ‘big four’ to do so.
Their share price tumbled by 20% overall, including a 14% drop in one day, wiping billions off their valuation. Since then, their market share has fallen further and their UK Chief Executive, Richard Brasher, resigned. The Guardian’s Nils Pratley said he was a fall guy and that Philip Clarke now has less than a year to straighten Tesco out.
In view of Tesco’s action in Gravesend, there are six important and effective things Christians can do:
1 Pray that God will send repentance into the Tesco boardroom, and that they will reverse their grant to gay pride..
2 Boycott Tesco and encourage others to do the same.
3 Mount a witness with banners and/or give leaflets out to shoppers outside Tesco’s high street stores ‘Tesco Direct’ (they can ask you to leave their car park, but you have every right to witness on the street). Contact us for leaflets on 01994 484544 or email info@christianvoice.org.uk (there is a spam arrest filter if you have not emailed us before). The text of the LEAFLET is HERE Always go in pairs or a group, not alone.
4 Email/write to the Tesco Group Chief Executive, Philip Clark, philip.clarke@tesco.com. You can also write to their new Chairman, Sir Richard Broadbent, at New Tesco House, Delamare Rd, Cheshunt, Herts, EN8 9SL. His email seems to be: richard.broadbent@tesco.com. Ask them what their policy is regarding freedom of speech and what advice they have given or will be giving to branch managers who have Christians leafleting outside their stores.
5 Sign our petition ‘Boycott Tesco’.
6 If you do not receive our monthly newsletter, Join Christian Voice!
Previous related stories in www.ChristianVoice.org.uk:
07/03/2012 Christian ‘Not Guilty’ in Stonewall email case
10/02/2012 Taunton Preacher ‘Not Guilty’
12/01/2012 Shares dive as Tesco sales slump
06/01/2012 TESCO – from the horse’s mouth
03/01/2012 Tesco rattled by Christian Voice campaign
20/12/2012 Tesco Head is Anti-Christian Bigot
18/11/2012 Prayer will humble proud Tesco
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