London·Lippy Londoners

Should the city's street preachers be shut down?

With confrontations between angry passersby and London street preachers now becoming physical, our Lippy Londoners discuss if the city should do more.

London Morning panel discusses whether the city needs to do more to stop the street preachers

From left to right: Rob Paynter, Vanessa Brown and Marshal Burnham. (Kate Dubinski/CBC News)

Londoners have been speaking out about two self-described street preachers. 

Steven Ravbar and Matthew Carapella often stand downtown with microphones and loud speakers and comment on people walking by while preaching scripture.

CBC News has heard from many women say they've been called whores and prostitutes by the two men. Members of London's LGBTQ community say they've also been targeted. Even people with tattoos say they have been called out.

The preachers had denied the claims.

But, earlier this week, a scuffle broke out between a man and the two preachers.

It got us to thinking: what more should the city do — if anything — about these two men? Should it be accepted as free speech?

Around the table:

  • Marshal Burnham, a former youth pastor who posted a blog about the preachers.
  • Vanessa Brown, co-owner of Brown and Dickson bookstore.
  • Rob Paynter, former head of communications at the city of London.

If you can also listen to the discussion from Wednesday here.

London Morning with Rebecca Zandbergen airs weekdays from 5:57 a.m. - 8:37 a.m on 93.5 FM.