Assistant Principal Who Bullied Pro-Life Students Placed on Leave

By Trey Elmore
Church Militant

An assistant principal at Downington STEM Academy in Pennsylvania was caught on video harassing and threatening young pro-life students. A video published April 26 shows 16-year-old Conner Haines and his 19-year-old sister Lauren holding up pro-life signs on a public sidewalk near the high school. Assistant Principal Zach Ruff is shown yelling and cursing at them, cursing Jesus Christ, and admitting he is "gay as the day is long."

The high school has placed Ruff on administrative leave following the incident, issuing the following statement:

We have begun a thorough investigation into this unfortunate situation and have placed the staff member on administrative leave. We do not condone or support the conduct expressed in the video and are deeply disappointed that this incident occurred. His conduct does not represent the values of the school district or the respect we expect our employees to show for the civil rights of others.

This has now become a personnel matter, and we must follow the policies and procedures that we have in place concerning staff issues. We truly apologize to all for the actions of this employee.

Church Militant reached out to the high school for comment and contact information for Ruff. The email given to Church Militant ended up being non-functioning.

Throughout the confrontation, Conner spoke to the passing vehicles about abortion. Ruff walked up close to the student, stuck his finger in the teenager's face and snapped, 

"Don't talk to my students! I will call the police if you don't shut up."

A moment after Ruff began standing in front of the two activists, Conner remarked that the unborn victims of abortion are imagebearers of God. Ruff shouted, "You can go to Hell, where they are, too!"

When Conner told Ruff that children were being murdered, Ruff spun around and barked "They're not children; they're cells."

Ruff repeatedly threatened to call the police on the teenagers, accusing them of harassment. The first time Conner spoke the name of Our Lord, Ruff got in his face and said,

"Listen here, son, I'm as gay as the day is long, and twice as sunny. I don't give a f*** what you think Jesus tells me and what I should and should not be doing."

Conner didn't back down: "Jesus can set you free from your sins. It's the truth; it's the Gospel. He died on the Cross.

Church Militant article continues

Comments for the school? Call 610-269-8460 (ask for public relations) and Drexel Univ at 215-895-1965.  Mr. Ruff is a PhD student at Drexel.

Blogger's Note: God bless Conner and Lauren who did not back down from this person in authority. In attempting to intimidate them, he made a fool of himself. They stood their ground with grace and holy boldness; sharing the truth about Jesus and these babies being 'imagebearers' of God.  

Pray for this man's soul that their powerful message of salvation would pierce his heart. May he be saved and set free from the darkness and lies of the enemy.