Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 27, 1993 TAG: 9306270044
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Short
It was an offering to celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court's pro-Santeria ruling, which said municipalities cannot forbid animal sacrifices in religious rites.
"This is victory," said Santeria priest Rigoberto Zamora, moments before he slaughtered 15 animals by cutting their throats.
His public ceremony provoked the ire of animal rights demonstrators, neighbors and fellow santeros, who tried to persuade him to cancel the public service.
Outside Zamora's apartment complex Saturday, about 40 protesters watched in horror as a sheep, three goats and plastic crates stuffed with roosters were unloaded from a van. "I hope they slit your throat like you slit theirs," yelled Cookie Graham, a member of Adopt-A-Pet.
Miami Beach police kept demonstrators back as 17 reporters filed into an emptied apartment to watch the ritual. After two hours, 15 animals had been sacrificed to four deities.
Saturday's ceremony may have cost Zamora his home. As it ended, the apartment building owner arrived, alerted by angry neighbors.
Samuel Jeremie told Zamora he would start eviction procedures on Monday. "He's in violation of the lease," Jeremie said. "It's not stipulated in the contract that this is a church."
by CNB