Pastor dressed as Grinch angers parents with claims about Santa
A Texas pastor has been slammed for dressing up as the Grinch and standing outside a primary school with a sign declaring “Santa is Fake. Jesus is Real."
Christmas -killjoy David Harold Grisham decided he could no longer face watching children being ‘lied’ to about Santa’s existence. Standing outside Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Amarillo, Texas, the “pastor” decided to preach what he believes to be the truth - that Santa is not in fact real.
Grisham was unable to provide any evidence for his controversial claim and faced the wrath of angry parents who didn’t want the real-life Grinch to steal their child’s seasonal joy - and their own too. But Grisham claims he was assaulted outside the school and that “police showed up in force” to block him from “exercising my first amendment rights as much as they could," he said in a Facebook post.
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In a video posted on Youtube Grisham can be heard saying “we shouldn’t lie to children” as a man - seemingly a parent - quickly walks towards him. After a short scuffle Grisham says “get off my stuff” before picking up his sign which has been partially ripped.
Nursery apologises after child with Down's syndrome ‘treated less favourably’Grisham places his Grinch mask back on - apparently unaware that the story of the Grinch ends in the green Whoville resident loving Christmas more than anyone - and continues to hold his sign outside the school. Parents carried on shouting at the un-jolly man, who refused to budge from his position on the pavement.
“Hundreds of children heard the message and many parents as well,” Grisham continued in his Facebook post. “It’s very telling for a society to go this far in protecting a LIE. To go that far in trying to protect kids from hearing the truth. It’s no wonder our country is in trouble.” Amarillo Police say Grisham was “lawfully on the sidewalk” and broke no laws in his actions, which is why he was not arrested.
Kelsey Williams, principal of the school, said that Grisham was “unwanted and uninvited”, adding: “I’m saddened by the fact that some of our kiddos and families were frightened because of him.”
Grisham has previous form when it comes to Santa-bashing, once posting an anti-Christmas version of the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas’. In his twisted version, a homeowner shoots Santa and it ends saying “Santa is DEAD, But Christ is ALIVE!”
In another post, Grisham said even more Grinches will be heading onto the streets to “preach” the same messages - and asked for money to help with the work. He says he is in an “intimate relationship with Jesus Christ first and foremost above ALL things. I profess his name before men”. He continues: “I am the pastor of a small group of street preachers who take the Gospel to those who will not step into a church.”