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.
"I don't know,A few years back my son a minor was charged along with about ten others for throwing an egg at a car with gay people kissing in it,He was charged with a hate crime,missile expulsion and a few others.It cost me a bundle and he could have went to jail."
I hope your son now understands that he cannot throw eggs at cars just because he doesn't like who's in that car or what they're doing. It's against the law.
AND the DoJ needs to suspend or fire the homsexual DoJ attorneys if it is proven that--as alleged--they pushed the police and D.A. to jail and prosecute the protesters under a nefarious "hate crimes" interpretation.
they should all be suspended indefinitely. there is no place for homosexual activists in the Justice Dept. It was bad enough that Ashcroft caved on banning "Gay Day" by these freaks. The "queer" culture at Justice needs to be destroyed.
konaice - you swerved right into the real issue - where the hell is this coming from?
True. But next time the DA will probably shop a sympathetic judge and get away with it. Go after the DA bringing the charges and the police who made an unconstitutional arrest. Is there really such a thing as malicious arrest? I like that idea. I'm sure there are some conservative Christian legal orgnizations which might move this forward pro bono.
You are right. Homosexual activists have no place in the Justice dept.
I'd like to know how the hiring for these guys is done too. How did so many homosexuals get into the federal government? What is behind this?
Just out of curiousity, is there any such thing as a "love crime"? Can you give an example?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Shalom.
Heh, heh, heh. You said "fruits."
Shalom.
Homosexual in the DOJ are using their status to attack these people based ONLY on what they were saying. The DOJ civil rights attorneys are imposing their religious point of view upon the enforcemnt of civil rights laws.
This should be a major scandal for the DOJ. The MSM should be all over such abusive power. HOWEVER since this is supporting the pro-homo religion of the MSM there will be no reporting of this attempt to impose such a sexual religion via the government.
I hope there is a civil civil rights suit with lots and lots and lots of discovery. I hope there are bar complaints against these attorneys with lots and lots of details regarding their unethical use of their position as a government lawyer and discrimination based on the "sexual orientation" of the christians.
snip...Just out of curiousity, is there any such thing as a "love crime"? Can you give an example?
In a recent cyber discussion concerning hate crimes, I pointed out that when someone is accused of commiting a hate crime, they're being found guilty of not loving someone, as hate is the absence of love and respect. The person I was talking to didn't seem able to comprehend this, but I bet you, with your inquiring mind will.
Zieg Heil! Mine Fueror!
Scuze me for bursting your bubble, but this is America, where local police work for Local Governments, and even a LOCAL prosecutor can not order an arrest without a warrant.
If the police didn't SEE a crime WHY did they make an arrest?
DOJ attorneys carry no authority in local matters.
I agree,and by the way it was proven he did not throw the egg.He was grounded for 6 months.My point was what they did was wrong but did not that kind of harsh punishment.
Sorry ,I intended to say that incident did not deserve that kind of possible punishment.It was because it was a gay issue.By the way are you gay?
I did,this happened a while ago,but I wrote down the money it cost me on a piece of paper,and wrapped it up.It was his Christmas present for that year and he was grounded for 6 months.
The first several sentences in the article were poorly written.
The truth is that four adults and i minor still are facing charges.
The charges "have not" been dropped on five individuals.
It ain't over yet.
http://www.lifeandlibertyministries.com
I called the Christian Post to ask that they correct the misinformation. Hopefully the changes will be made to the article soon.
Once again, the charges have not been dropped.
Nice play on words but 'fruits' isn't a very Politically Correct term for fudge packing perverts.
It's my understanding that an officer must witness a misdemeanor to site. It the offense is a felony, the officer can take a report from a witness and arrest the suspect. One of our resident police officers can clarify this.
Here's an incident that we could compare this to. A man walks into a SevenEleven and bradishes a gun, demanding money. Witnesses see the event. They give an account of the incident, a description and a license plate number. An officer a few blocks away sees the perp in the get-away car driving down the street, effects a stop and makes an arrest.
A person doesn't have to be a Department of Justice attorney, or a local prosecutor to effect an arrest. A private citizen can make an arrest if he feels there are grounds. He does expose himself to charges if he abuses this concept.
An attorney for the Department of Justice, is considered to be an officer of the court. Their testimony should be above reproach.
If a person filing a report lies, they are subject to the laws applicable for such an offense. Clearly in this case, a false report was issued. If an officer of the court were found guilty of having done this, it might affect their licensure. It might also merit them serious jail time. Filing a false report regarding a civil rights violation, is a serious offense.
To answer your quetions and points raised.
Anyone can make an arrest without a warrant for justifiable cause.
The police made an arrest based on the report of a witness to what the witness claimed was a crime. Evidently there was a judgement call by the officers that the witnesses story seemed reasonable enough to have been taken serious.
Every citizen can give a report of what they observed. DOJ attornies do not have authority in local matters. But they do have as much right as anyone else to bear wtiness. And I think you're kidding yourself if you think a police officer wouldn't take their position as indication of their veracity.
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