Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Christians, Arrested for Protesting Homosexual Street Fair, Now Acquitted
Christian Post ^ | 1/6/05 | Lilia Tse

Posted on 01/06/2005 11:55:20 PM PST by paudio

"Hate Crime" charges against four Christian men, facing a total of 47 years in prison, were dropped after the judge viewed the tape of the incident.

Four Christian men were charged with “hate crime” felony when in fact they were peacefully protesting a homosexual street event on October 10, 2004 in Philadelphia. Concerned Women for America (CWA) urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to intervene. The four adult defendants, who face a total of 47 years in prison if convicted of the three felonies and five misdemeanors, pled not guilty.

“The District Attorney’s office went berserk, saddling them with criminal charges including trying to incite a riot, even though the protesters were peaceful,” said Robert Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute. “Their crime was to cite Bible verses, which a prosecutor called ‘hateful,’ and to urge homosexuals, like other sinners, to repent. It’s frightening to see religious persecution on American soil, especially in the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence. The Justice Department needs to step in and investigate this civil rights violation by the city of Philadelphia.”

It all began when 11 Christians from Repent America began preaching and singing at Outfest, a homosexual street event. The Christians, led by Repent America founder Michael Marcavage, were surrounded by the Pink Angels, a group of homosexuals who held up Styrofoam signs, blocking the group. Police arrested only the Christians.

After viewing a videotape of the incident at the December 14 hearing, Municipal Court Judge William Austin Meehan dropped charges against six other defendants, including a 72-year-old grandmother. A juvenile defendant awaits separate court action.

“The felony charges in particular are outrageous. We’re talking about expressing an opinion in a public area,” Knight said.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: acquittal; andrewsullivan; andrewsullivanlist; christian; churchandstate; clintonistas; department; doj; donutwatch; fakehatecrimes; firstamendment; freespeech; govwatch; homosexualagenda; justice; libertarians; of; outfest; repentamerica
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 181-198 next last

1 posted on 01/06/2005 11:55:20 PM PST by paudio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: paudio

Name the prosecutor who filed the charges.

2 posted on 01/06/2005 11:58:16 PM PST by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: paudio

Thank God that's over. Good Judge!


3 posted on 01/06/2005 11:58:29 PM PST by jocon307 (Ann Coulter was right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: paudio
"Hate Crime" charges against four Christian men, facing a total of 47 years in prison, were dropped after the judge viewed the tape of the incident.

Having the charges dropped is not the same as being acquitted.

Be that as it may, I hope these people can muster the money to bring false arrest and malicious prosecution charges, and also go after those gay federal doj attourneys that masterminded the entire operation.

Why were local police taking direction from doj attorneys anyway?

4 posted on 01/06/2005 11:59:04 PM PST by konaice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: paudio; american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; ...
Finally ... a judge with common sense!

Catholic Ping - please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


5 posted on 01/07/2005 12:01:41 AM PST by NYer ("In good times we enjoy faith, in bad times we exercise faith." ... Mother Angelica)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DirtyHarryY2K

Ping!


6 posted on 01/07/2005 12:02:42 AM PST by NYer ("In good times we enjoy faith, in bad times we exercise faith." ... Mother Angelica)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdReform; backhoe; Yehuda; Clint N. Suhks; saradippity; stage left; Yakboy; I_Love_My_Husband; ...
Homosexual Agenda Ping.

GOOD NEWS

"Hate Crime" charges against four Christian men, facing a total of 47 years in prison, were dropped after the judge viewed the tape of the incident.

Its about time!

If you want on/off the list let me know.

7 posted on 01/07/2005 12:08:25 AM PST by DirtyHarryY2K (''Go though life with a Bible in one hand and a Newspaper in the other" -- Billy Graham)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Amen


8 posted on 01/07/2005 12:10:33 AM PST by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM 53 : 1 The ( FOOL ) hath said in his heart , There is no GOD .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: konaice

Somebody had to have filed a fraudulent police report to get these folks taken away like this. The group should own that person's grandchildren's homes before this is all over.


9 posted on 01/07/2005 12:11:42 AM PST by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Thanks for the ping. The article did not say which judge it was that threw the case out?


10 posted on 01/07/2005 12:13:20 AM PST by DirtyHarryY2K (''Go though life with a Bible in one hand and a Newspaper in the other" -- Billy Graham)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Southack

I don't the person's name but I'm from PA & heard that there were gay lawyers marching that advised the city on how what charges to file. From that, it sounded like the city was involved? Anyway, thank goodness Senator Specter didn't have a say over the appointment of this judge!


11 posted on 01/07/2005 12:14:15 AM PST by jeffie77
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne
I hope those Christians who were " FALSELY ARRESTED " take those who were involved in this to civil court and sue them to bankruptcy
12 posted on 01/07/2005 12:15:04 AM PST by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM 53 : 1 The ( FOOL ) hath said in his heart , There is no GOD .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne
Somebody had to have filed a fraudulent police report to get these folks taken away like this.

Another story posted here on FR was that several GAY DOJ attourneys (probably Clintonistas) were attending the event, and they wipped out their credentials and started directing the police to arrest people.

These are the first that have to be hung out to dry, then the district attorney.

Then the local cops who started taking orders from federal agents.

13 posted on 01/07/2005 12:16:31 AM PST by konaice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Southack; paudio; goodieD; ArGee; Askel5; Salvation

Four peacefully protest great wrong, and have their Constitutional right to free speech stripped away from them with a felony "hate crime' charge. A dark hour, indeed.


14 posted on 01/07/2005 12:17:52 AM PST by Giant Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: konaice

If the DOJ folks told lies, then their jobs should be forfeit. As Justice Department employees, they should be prosecuted for civil rights violations, since there's no excuse for them violating the laws they know intimately.

The D.A. should have known better. I agree. As for the police, if a person whipped out a DOJ ID, I'd probably take their word for it.

The police are not at fault, if a DOJ person lies their a--es off. It's unfortunate, but I'm not sure I could buy off on their culpability in this.


15 posted on 01/07/2005 12:21:58 AM PST by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: paudio

I honestly believe this sort of thing will not hold in America, though it may in other countries.


16 posted on 01/07/2005 12:22:22 AM PST by southernred
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prophet in the wilderness

Same here.


17 posted on 01/07/2005 12:22:38 AM PST by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: paudio

this is really good news


18 posted on 01/07/2005 12:27:15 AM PST by DameAutour (Yes, I know what my problem is. My problem is I'm right.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: southernred

Yea,,,,, France


19 posted on 01/07/2005 12:27:18 AM PST by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM 53 : 1 The ( FOOL ) hath said in his heart , There is no GOD .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: paudio
Looks like the District Attorney is a "Happy" guy......


20 posted on 01/07/2005 12:27:55 AM PST by Dallas59 ("A weak peace is worse than war" - Tacitcus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 181-198 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson