About 10,000 people assembled at the State House in Columbia, South Carolina, to join in "Stand with God, Pro-Family Rally," with Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Rick Perry along with several US senators and pastors from across the state.
The hot topics at the rally were religion and the issues of abortion and same-sex marriage, with participation of people from neighboring states of North Carolina and Georgia.
"Our nation is in crisis right now. But I want to tell you there is a spirit of revival that is sweeping South Carolina, that is sweeping the country. Americans are waking up," said Cruz.
Cruz also discussed Planned Parenthood undercover videos showing the staff selling aborted baby parts, and said that the first thing
…show more content…
No show votes, no empty votes. Stand up and lead and defund Planned Parenthood today," he continued.
"I feel like it 's Sunday morning, and we have a call to worship on the (State House) steps."
Perry pitched in saying that religious freedom is endangered in US today.
"We see fear in our churches and in our religious schools because we have a government that is out of control. For generations, this city was taught right from wrong in our synagogues, in our churches. We see these under attack today, literally the foundation of America is under attack from those on the left. It 's under attack from Washington, D.C."
"Who are you gonna boast today? Who are you gonna stand with today? I ask you to stand with America! Stand with liberties! Stand with these biblical values that America has been founded upon. Stand with God," Perry said.
The former Texas governor said that this country 's foundation was based on a peaceful union between faith and freedom.
"Are you willing to rise up and stand for God and to go forward and deliver the principles and the values this country were based upon?" Perry
…show more content…
In reply, thousands of natives of South Carolina and surrounding states who were attending the rally cheered and said they were ready.
Perry added that Jesus "saw corruption, just like today."
"We need somebody that 's got the backbone to go to Washington, D.C., and turn over the tables of the money changers, of the corruption, of the greed, that we see in Washington, D.C.," he continued, according to the Texas Tribune.
About 600 people sang in a choir at the State House steps during the rally.
A resident of Charlotte, Stephan McQuage, told The State that rights of Christians are being "slowly but surely" stripped