Posted on 12/14/2004 9:29:21 AM PST by Map Kernow
A federal appeals court denied an emergency appeal to stop prosecution of 11 Philadelphia-area Christians who allege the District Attorney's office retaliated against them for exercising their constitutional rights at a homosexual event in which they were arrested and later charged with felonies.
As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, the group was "preaching God's Word" to a crowd of people attending the outdoor Philadelphia "OutFest" event and displaying banners with biblical messages.
After a confrontation with a group called the Pink Angels, described by protesters as "a militant mob of homosexuals," the eleven Christians were arrested and spent a night in jail.
Eight charges were filed, including three felonies and five misdemeanors. The charges were criminal conspiracy, possession of instruments of crime, reckless endangerment of another person, ethnic intimidation, riot, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways.
Early last week, the American Family Association's Center for Law & Policy filed papers in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania seeking a temporary restraining order that would prevent the city of Philadelphia from prosecuting the case.
Judge Petrese Tucker denied the Philadelphia 11's request, and the CLP immediately appealed the decision to the Third Circuit, which upheld it.
"This turn of events is beyond belief," said Brian Fahling, senior trial attorney for the CLP.
At the hearing, the CLP presented what it called "undisputed" video evidence that captured the "Outfest" events on tape, showing the Philadelphia 11 cooperated with police and were continually harassed by the Pink Angels.
None of the Pink Angels was cited or arrested.
"Despite the undisputed evidence placed before the court, our action for emergency relief was denied not once, but twice," Fahling added. "Many had thought an outcome like this ended at Selma.
"It seems that the Philadelphia 11 have become second-class citizens in the City of Brotherly Love," he said.
A preliminary hearing takes place today at 9 a.m. in Philadelphia.
The ethnic intimidation charge stems from Pennsylvania's "hate crimes" law – to which the newest "victim" category of "sexual orientation" was recently added. The protesters say a Philadelphia police officer told them that because they were on a public sidewalk they were permitted to move freely through the event. A few minutes later, however, they were arrested and removed.
The Philadelphia 11 face a maximum penalty of 47 years each in jail.
Sure looks to me like that's what the cops were trying to do.
Oh good God - Your a liberal in republican clothes.
Can I have that framed? Because that'd be news to the vast majority of my classmates.
These folks need to be careful what they sue for. Do they really want militant gay activists to have free rein to proselytize aggressively at evangelical Christian events? If the court decides certain behavior is protected, then it's protected for everybody. Personally, I think the practice of counter-demonstrating at events whose principles one disagrees with is generally a bad idea. There's some justification for it at candidates' campaign events, and at legislative bodies' headquarters when controversial legislation is being voted on. But just going around deliberately annoying people you disagree with, as they try to celebrate what they believe in, is rude and usually counterproductive. It's just as obnoxious for religious protestors to "preach to" participants in a gay festival, as it is for militant gay activists to disrupt Catholic masses (as they have been known to do) with their complaints about the Catholic Church's positions on homosexuality.
What a bunch of Prom Queens! Only in a liberal hell-hole like Philly would something like this happen. Maybe you should complain to the UN about us pesky RED STATE Christians.
A very good point.
Then he will end this world as it exists.
There will be no lawyers or ACLU to assist anyone as we will all have to answer before him for our lives of sin.
He will be the finial judge and jury, no appeals the verdict will be finial and eternal.
That's why I have a long posting history.
That is a very good point. I hope most of the charges get dropped. I was involved in a similar incident at the so-called "March for Women's Lives" in April of 2004. A group of pro-lifers went with their signs to a public sidewalk across the street from the main stage for the rally, and I was among them. The Park Police arrested us for "demonstating without a permit," and were detained for a few hours. We ended up just paying a $50 fine. I think these protesters should be slapped with a similar penalty, as much as a disagree with the "demonstrating without a permit" regulation.
Sorry
Right, the Christians should know when to jettison their rights. They should allow themselves to be persecuted.
Are you talking "known" in the Biblical sense?
Balony!
WELL since you SAYED you knew some CHRSTIANS that were protesters, you would not put it past them to be guilty AM I right or wrong come on.
Oh No! Christian protestors. Save the woman and children, run for the hills.
"Look out, they are getting down on their knees"!
Maybe you should change your nick from jude24 to Judas.
YOU KNOW I think you are making this CRAP up as you go .
Why all the hostility against Jude? He's asking good questions, making good points. What many of you are advocating is a dangerous way to function. Here is what you are saying:
"If a news report favors my view of the world, then it should never be questioned for its veracity. Activists who favor my views should also never be questioned. I will also attack anyone who dares ask these questions."
This view is dangerous for conservatism and undermines its credibility. Healthy skepticism is good for conservatism. Jude isn't going to an extreme with it. Every movement has activists that do go to extremes but unwittingly undermine the ultimate goal. It's good to make sure that the Philly 11 aren't those kinds of activists. Some conservative news organizations do a good job at investigating both sides of a story. WorldNetDaily does not.
Thanks, Jude, for sticking to your guns and staying reasonable and calm while people are trying to throw all kinds of crap at you.
I am also concerned that the US doesn't make it illegal to condemn gay relationship. While it is alleged that this happened, I am also not convinced that actually is what happened to the Philly 11.
You are in the wrong profession... if you are a lawyer! That's just my opinion!
ping for later.
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