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 Attorneys 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 CWAs Culture & Family Institute. Their crime was to cite Bible verses, which a prosecutor called hateful, and to urge homosexuals, like other sinners, to repent. Its 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. Were talking about expressing an opinion in a public area, Knight said.
Name the prosecutor who filed the charges.
Thank God that's over. Good Judge!
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?
Catholic Ping - please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
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.
Amen
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.
Thanks for the ping. The article did not say which judge it was that threw the case out?
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!
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.
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.
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.
I honestly believe this sort of thing will not hold in America, though it may in other countries.
Same here.
this is really good news
Yea,,,,, France
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