Posted on 12/16/2004 8:15:22 AM PST by OB1kNOb
Appeal to the Supreme Court last hope for Christians
“First, symbols of Christianity are removed from the public square; now, Christians are facing 47 years in prison because they preached the gospel in the public square. Stalin would be proud,” – Brian Fahling, AFA Center for Law and Policy Senior Trial Attorney.
Tupelo, MS - After a federal appeals court denied an emergency appeal to stop prosecution of 11 Christians on Tuesday, Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge William Austin Meehan ordered four of the Christians to stand trial on three felony (criminal conspiracy, ethnic intimidation, and riot) and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could face up to 47 years in prison.
The Christians were arrested on October 10 for praying, singing, and reading scripture during an annual “gay pride” event known as “Outfest” in Philadelphia.
Since the federal courts did not intervene to halt the state prosecution, the last route for the Christians would be an appeal to the Supreme Court says the Christians’ attorney Brian Fahling, senior trial attorney for the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy.
“First, symbols of Christianity are removed from the public square, now, Christians are facing years in prison because they preached the gospel in the public square. Stalin would be proud,” Fahling said.
The federal appeals court in Philadelphia denied emergency relief despite video footage Fahling calls “undisputed evidence” that shows the Christians cooperating with police and continually being harassed by the Pink Angels, a group of homosexuals organized to impede the gospel message. Philadelphia city prosecutor in the case, Charles Ehrlich, attacked the Christians as “hateful” and referred to preaching the Bible as “fighting words,” the judge agreed.
Charges were dropped against the remaining seven apparently because they were not seen quoting scripture on the videotape.
The Philadelphia case represents another example of discrimination toward Christians,” said Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association national headquarters. “The past month has poured forth cases of Christian persecution seen in the higher education institution, public school systems, and the judicial court system.”
Center for Law and Policy
Contact: Kathryn Hooks 662-844-5036 American Family Association P.O. Drawer 2440 Tupelo, MS 38803 1-662-680-3886
bump!
OH bullshit. They are being charged with felonies for exercising their Right to Free Speech.
Do you think Philly would charge fags under the same circumstances. I am so sick of all the ball-less moderates we are getting on FR. Please, go ahead and join the other frickin side-if you haven't already..
What difference does it make. This is supposed to be the United States of America, and people should never be arrested for anything they say or think.
And all this happened within walking distance of where the US Constitution was written and signed.
Time for a new Constitution and a new Declaration of Independance.
Also time for these judges to be taken out and hanged by the neck until dead for violating their oath of office.
Good lord, if you accuse me of defending Kinsey one more time you're going to have to be accused of being more than a troll. Re-read the things I have written. NEVER once did I defend Kinsey. I simply asked for more than just hearsay that he was doing the things people were accusing him of.
By the way, I'm looking at Dr. Reisman's website right now.
stand up and throw the tea overboard if you have a pair!
Fascinating point of view...thanks for giving me something to think about today. As for "evidence to convict" I hope they don't even have to do any major digging to find enough evidence, I hope it is in plain sight for all to view.
>>>Time for a new Constitution and a new Declaration of Independance.
We don't need a NEW one. I stand by and support the old one.
Dust it off people!
To an extent that is true. But these folks were also charged with obstructing a highway and rioting (which most likely means they did not have a permit). Both of those are far beyond just "saying and thinking".
Well, if you see the light on Kinsey I'll take back my words.
If you still think he was in any way legitimate or anything other than a vile criminal, my accusation stands.
Up to you.
Thanks. Do you perhaps see a pattern here though, with the Don Adams Teamster beating, Race Bannon, Berkely riots against conservatives where the conservatives are blamed and taken away etc etc?
Further proof of their intellectual vacuousness can be found in a few posts on this thread that opined protecting the rights of the innocent means also protecting the rights of the guilty.
Rights don't require permits, priviledges do. Free assembly is a right, not a priviledge. Constitutionally, it cannot be tied to a permit any more than prayer can.
I watched the video. It appeared they were on a sidewalk and not the road. Now were they staying in one place. The continuously kept trying to relocated and were stopped by 'parade attendees' with signs caging them in.
this is an outrage...
So Hitler was not a mass murderer, because he didn't personally kill anyone with his own hands?
And Charles Manson is also not guilty of murder, becuase he "merely" instigated henchmen to do the crimes?
Now = Nor
Thoughts well expressed...Thought you'd like the free country stuff.
Exactly. I don't see any evidence on that tape that anyone was blocking a street, either. I can understand the idea of keeping people from blocking a public street without a permit, but it's clear that these people were arrested because of the content of their message.
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