Atlanta Bus Driver Refused To Let Riders Off Until They Prayed

[DearAbby]

ATLANTA -- A MARTA bus driver is on suspension following allegations that he forced passengers to pray before allowing them to exit the bus.

Christopher James was one of those passengers. James said, initially, he thought something was wrong when he rang the bell to get off the bus and the door didn’t open.

James said the bus driver asked him and three other passengers to join hands in prayer. James said the driver prayed with the group for about four minutes.

“He got up out of the driver’s seat,” said James.

James, who isn’t against prayer, said he felt compelled to join in although the request confused him.

James’ cousin, who arrived at the bus stop to meet him, said she saw the men standing inside the bus, but didn’t realize they were praying.

“I was like, ‘Why were y’all praying on the bus? He said the man would not let them off the bus,’” said Thembi Cresser.

A MARTA representative told Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Jones that the transit agency suspended the bus driver, identified as Leroy Matthews, for five days and told him not to proselytize to passengers. Matthews has been with MARTA for six years.

James said Matthews returned to his normal duties after the prayer.

“I don't want to pray to get off MARTA, you know,” said James.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/21544521/detail.html

[chelsea0011]

1. Where the hell was he letting them off that they needed prayer?

[DearAbby]

6. lol...Would I get in trouble saying ATLANTA?

:rofl: Is it really that bad???

[DemBones DemBones]

27. Prayer is always useful in Atlanta,

especially if MARTA is involved.

[TroglodyteScholar]

29. That was my first thought as well! n/t

[Blue_Tires]

16. i remember a few fun neighborhoods from the old days

:silly:

[Xipe Totec]

2. Dear God, save us from this imbecile - Amen n/t

[tularetom]

3. "Dear Lord I pray this asshole bus driver has a heart attack and shuts up

so I can get the hell off this fucking bus".

[valerief]

4. He probably gets faith-based funding to do it.

Fucking faith-based funding for crazy xtians.

[rurallib]

5. All I can say is Christ, save me from your followers if you are real

I thought maybe he would make them PAY.

[Louisiana1976]

7. Some city bus drivers are so bad, riders pray before they get ON the bus.

[Bluebear]

8. 'Jesus fucken H christ let me off this bus NOW!'

Amen.

[bobbolink]

15. I believe you left out a phrase.

"on a trailer hitch".

:evilgrin:

[Bluebear]

17. ---

:toast:

[bobbolink]

19. .

:hi:

[KamaAina]

9. Apparently my favorite MARTA rider was not on that particular bus

if she had been, being suspended would be the least of James' worries. :evilgrin:

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. hee hee hee... funny story

:rofl:

[DJ13]

11. Why is it more and more religious people are displaying signs

of severe mental health issues in recent years?

[edwardian]

37. Religious belief

IS a sign of mental health problems. Believing in the imaginary and unprovable...delusion is the term. Flame on.

[Dorian Gray]

39. Clever

never heard that one before. :eyes:

[dsc]

12. I still remember riding a Cleveland bus and this body builder

complete with the singlet/tights outfit, gets up and turns to face the entire bus. I thought, Oh shit, this guy is huge and he flipped out, but he turned and prayed over us. I was so glad he was only praying.

[KittyWampus]

20. I would have been really pretty scared- in your scenario and in the one mentioned in OP

seriously, whack-job driver has you trapped and forces you to pray... I could easily imagine a more drastic ending.

[dsc]

22. I was scared but felt stupid for being scared afterward

the senario in the OP would have pissed me off more than scared me.

[lunatica]

13. Does 'Godammit all to hell! Stop the bus or I'll fucking crucify you!" constitute prayer

[Owl]

14. If he pulls this stunt again he should be fired.

[KittyWampus]

18. if that had happened to me, I'd have expected the driver to commence shooting

thankfully, he didn't have a gun.

Sure sounds deranged.

How is this not kidnapping or holding people against their will?

[Forkboy]

21. I would have loudly prayed to God to give me the strength not to kill the driver.

[RC]

23. Open the damn door or I will

have you charged with kidnapping!

[Solly Mack]

24. He should have been fired

[-..__...]

33. He should have been arrested...

for unlawful detention or extortion.

[petronius]

25. I would have been tempted to pull one of the little exit handles and kick out

a window. Sounds like these guys handled it a lot better than I would have.

Hope the transit district is keeping a close eye on this driver...

[lunatica]

26. Some of these replies are worthy of a DUzy

[NoPasaran]

28. If only those riders were armed

They wouldn't have had to pray against their will.




:hide:

[no_hypocrisy]

30. Potential causes of action:

1) False imprisonment
2) Civil Rights violation

[Arugula Latte]

31. Next stop -- Corner of Fanaticism and Zealotry

Pull cord ... *ding*

[WeDidIt]

32. I wish an idiot bus driver would pull that shit with me

I'd be a fucking millionaire after the lawsuit.

[malaise]

34. He's lucky I wasn't on that bus

Really lucky.

[Divine Discontent]

35. he's very fortunate many weren't on that bus who post here - and I'm all for prayer!

but to be FORCED into prayer so I can exit would disturb and rile me up just a touch. I would tell the driver I'm calling 911 for kidnapping unless he opened the door.

Now, if someone said, "please pray for me because ...." I would say I certainly will as I head off to where I'm going, but to have some unstable driver demand I pray before I get off the bus would really make me want to file charges to get him removed!

If I weren't Christian, I'd hate to imagine what majorly sarcastic prayer I'd send up loudly! LOL

[donheld]

36. Let us pray

Dear God, Make the god-damned driver let us off the bus now!

Amen

[shadowknows69]

38. Can we start labeling the dominionists a terrorist organization yet?

Or at least habitual harrasment offenders?