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.
Yes, I even heard the term 'hate crime' tossed around for awhile, but I imagine they didn't think they could get that to stick.
This may interest you as well.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1315836/posts?page=160#160
Thanks for taking the time to make sure everyone has correct info. I emailed and called that paper and still no response and they still haven't made a change to their website. I didn't want anyone to let their guard down regarding this situation. We all need to be praying for yall and for our very freedom to present the gospel. I think we need to do more, write letters or something!
Amen. I hope hell hath no fury like four scorned and arrested christians.
God bless you.
It's called, taking back your country before the socialist totally destroy it.
According to news items posted here, these lawyers did not file a formal complaint, they merely walked up to officers, flashed their DOJ Ids, and started ordering arrests.
The local police were CLEARLY not using their own judgement, and even let the DOJ lawyers cow them into making arrests by citing reading from the Bible as hate speach. (while totally ignoring the fact that the DOJ lawyers were engated in a hate crime themselves).
Visit http://www.lifeandlibertyministries.com to hear an interveiw with Bob Knight of Concerned Women for America.
He speaks about the situation involving the Philadelphia Christians.
Prayers are answered.
The DOJ guys seem to have made a false verbal accusation to the police officers on scene. The police used that as the basis for the arrests and more than likely included those reports in their own reports they filed.
The reports the officers filed should name witnesses and what those witnesses reported to them.
If it is as you say, and I have no reason not to beleive your recitation of the facts, then the DOJ guys should still be in hot water. If they lied and video proves they did, then they still bore false witness. I still think it's actionable.
I don't agree with 'hate crime's laws. I don't defend the arrests that were made. I'm just not convinced the officers were the root of the problem.
IMO, the DOJ representatives themselves, should be prosecuted under some civil rights code violation. As government employees, it seems on the surface that they abused their position at the DOJ. They lied to get the Christian group arrested. They lied so that prosecution could go forward.
While I don't like the hate crimes statutes, if a police officer is presented with a reasonable accusation that a felony has occurred, I don't they have much choice but to act on it. Otherwise they'd be in violation of enforcing the law.
The bogus hate crimes categories should be struck down. And those DOJ guys should be swatted like flies.
I have received 4 of these in emails
PENNSYLVANIA CHRISTIANS FACE 47 YEARS IN PRISON FOR READING THE BIBLE IN PUBLIC
What we have been saying has now happened. You cannot quote what the
Bible has to say about homosexuality in public or you will be charged
with a "hate crime." Philadelphia is only the beginning. If we fail to
take a stand here, this "crime" will soon be applied across America.
In the 27 years of this ministry, I have never witnessed a more
outrageous miscarriage of justice than what is happening in
Philadelphia. Four Christians are facing up to 47-years in prison and
$90,000 in fines for preaching the Gospel on a public sidewalk, a
right fully protected by the First Amendment.
On October 10, 2004, the four Christians were arrested in
Philadelphia. They are part of "Repent America." Along with founder
Michael Marcavage, members of Repent America—with police
approval--were preaching near "Outfest", a homosexual event, handing
out Gospel literature and carrying banners with Biblical messages.
When they tried to speak, they were surrounded by a group of radical
homosexual activists dubbed the Pink Angels. A videotape of the
incident shows the "Pink Angels" interfering with the Christians’
movement on the street, holding up large pink symbols of angels to
cover up the Christians' messages and blowing high pitched whistles to
drown out their preaching.
Rather than arrest the homosexual activists and allow the Christians
to exercise their First Amendment rights, the Philadelphia police
arrested and jailed the Christians!
They were charged with eight crimes, including three felonies:
possession of instruments of crime (a bullhorn), ethnic intimidation
(saying that homosexuality is a sin), and inciting a riot (reading
from the Bible some passages relating to homosexuality) despite the
fact that no riot occurred.
You may think I am exaggerating. I'm not. Our AFA Center for Law
and Policy is representing these four individuals at no cost. We will
take this case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary to get
justice.
There is so much more about this case I don't have room for it in this
letter. We have prepared a 25-minute VHS/DVD in which two AFA-CLP
attorneys discuss the case in detail.
Click here to get your copy of the Philadelphia 4 Story
https://store.afa.net/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=27
Thanks for caring enough to get involved. We must not allow this
travesty of justice to continue.
Where was the ACLU?
I thought they defended "free speech" (at least that's what school teachers tell you they are defending).
Ping to #'s 157,158
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS tape your protests!
Sue the prosecuter and the city.
I'm in PA but not too familar with Philly but I do know there are gay areas and hotels, bars. etc.
My niece worked for the Kerry campaign (no family is perfect) and called my sister to get her a room in Philly on short notice (she was already driving to the city). My sister went online to find a hotel, called and made reservations. They were really nice and gave my niece a good discount when my sister explained what the kid was doing.
Turned out to be a gay hotel. My sister figured at least my niece would be safe.
Good question, lets have a civil suit against the city and find out WHY. It is very apparent that the JUDGE did not see a crime being committed.
DOJ attorneys carry no authority in local matters.
May be true, however, one whispering into the ear of a sympathetic cop could provide the necessary push to make the cop think he saw something that really didn't happen.
Thanks for the ping. I saw the article earlier and thought justice had been served, even if it was lukewarm.
It hasn't been served after all. This is beyond outrageous. It is downright dangerous and anyone who doesn't see that - well, jack booted thugism is the only thing I can say.
The right to speak the truth about evil is at stake. We are all in jeopardy.
And then bring the PROSECUTOR up on charges of civil rights violations un the the First Amendment!
I am so angry about this - who the hell does that prosecutor think he is? KING GEORGE III??? Our forefathers would have already tarred and feathered him, and run him out of town on a rail!
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.