A member of a fringe Jewish group was removed by force from Tuesday night’s Athens-Clarke County Commission meeting after tearing up a pro-Palestinian attendee’s sign and denouncing Mayor Kelly Girtz as a Satan worshipper and child trafficker.
A man who identified himself as Rabbi Camden Pace, founder and executive director of yeshuanation.org, spoke at the end of the meeting during the period for residents to declaim on any topic they desire.
Pace said that he has lived in Athens since 1972, although he spent some time in Malibu, CA in the music and film industry “until California lost its mind.” Pace also apparently worked as a comedian in Burbank, CA.
Pace told the commission that five people punched him and “were calling me a fucking Jew” while he evangelized downtown. Social media users who said they were witnesses disputed that claim, saying that Pace was harassing passers-by when one woman grabbed his wrist, prompting him to call police.
“This right here is deplorable,” Pace said, turning around to gesture at a woman wearing a medical mask holding a pro-Palestinian sign. “You proud of yourself? Put your face on camera.”
Pace called Girtz “a paid-off, Satan-worshipping, Communist child-trafficking Democrat.”
Girtz was not in attendance at the meeting. “I’m going to have to shut you down now,” said the mayor pro tem, Commissioner Ovita Thornton, who was presiding over the meeting. The three minutes allotted per public comment had expired.
“You can shut me down, because I got my words in, lady,” Pace responded.
“You did, and your time is up,” Thornton replied. “That’s all I’m saying.”
Pro-Palestine protesters have been attending commission meetings for months to urge the commission to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and several were present Tuesday night. Pace turned around, grabbed one of their signs and tore it up.
“Walk him out!” Thornton said repeatedly. Pace resisted when a police officer tried to do so. ACC Manager Blaine Williams and another man eventually assisted in subduing him. The officer used his Taser on Pace after he refused instructions to put his hands behind his back.
While all of this was going on, commissioners quickly adjourned the meeting.
Pace—who was convicted of robbing a bank in Forsyth County in 1998—was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, according to ACCPD Lt. Jody Thompson.
Pace had previously spoken to an Athens GOP meeting on Mar. 11, where he told local Republican Party members, “I’m Jewish, but I believe Yeshua [the Hebrew version of Jesus] is the Messiah.” The Messianic Judaism movement is closely aligned with evangelical Christianity.
He led people at the party meeting in a prayer: “I prophesize with hope, longing and belief that President Trump will be our next president in November.”
Like what you just read? Support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you give helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.
