Repent Amarillo was a small Amarillo, Texas-based group which advocated for the spiritual mapping and targeting of specific local areas and venues in order to exorcise demons from those areas. Because of the group's alleged tactics and targeting of perceivably-vulnerable minorities, the group has gained infamy from many critics who label the organization as a "hate group" or a "Christian" analogy for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. They have also been likened to a cult, and compared widely with Westboro Baptist Church. The group was led by former Department of Energysecurity guard and self-designated "pastor" David Grisham.
Activities
Among the number of notable actions and campaigns taken by the group include protests against supposed swingers, LGBT people, abortion clinics, Muslims, Buddhists, Wiccans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and a myriad of other groups.
Within Christian circles, the group has become a source of debate for apologeticists, many of whom disagree or reject the doctrine of spiritual mapping and territorial spirits, among other doctrinal issues.
Amarillo Citizens against Repent Amarillo
Amarillo Citizens against Repent Amarillo also known by the acronymACARA is the counter-movement to Repent Amarillo. They are protesters made up of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and atheists who gathered at Sam Houston Park in order to challenge the plan of David Grisham of activist group Repent Amarillo, to burn the Quran on a grill. While Grisham was arguing with a group of women that placed their hands on the grill asking if he'd burn them too, it was when Grisham lit his lighter anyway that a 23-year-old skateboarding member named Jacob Isom snuck up from behind him, grabbed the Quran from Grisham's hands, and ran off after saying, "Dude, you have no Quran"; afterwards, Isom handed the book to a religious leader from the Islamic Center of Amarillo. Isom was presented with a "Medal of Reasonableness" at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear for his action. He immediately threw the medal into the crowd. Of notable mention is the wide range of classes ACARA has within its ranks. Two well known members ran for Mayor of Amarillo, contesting David Grisham every step of the way. Cory "Grady" Traves is the head of ACARA's Peace Keepers detail, responsible for keeping the peace at the David Grisham for Mayor Rally.
In December 2016, David Grisham accosted a group of children and their parents who were waiting to see Santa Claus at Westgate Mall. A recording he made of the incident shows him being confronted by several parents. Grisham also posted a video showing a mock execution of Santa Claus by shooting.
