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.
This incident was a HUGE Civil Rights violation.
An investigation must be launched to get to the bottom of exactly WHICH "leading" gay Brownshirts are co-opting their positions of power to censor and harass Christian America.
Where's 'Dateline' and 20/20 regarding THIS story??
what you say, dog and cbb?
It appears that some folks were arrested and charged for merely not having the "correct view" of homosexuals, and that would be completely unacceptable under our Constitution and current law.
Becoming a DA doesn't entitle you to arrest people who have different moral or political views on that basis alone.
I'd have to see the evidence. Our side is fully capable of breaking the law in futherance of our views, at least once in awhile. Eric Rudolph comes to mind.
Based on the little evidence I've seen on this thread, the Philadelphia DA is out of control.
I'll bet the last name is Newdow.
Would you be willing to check on the accuracy of this post? The headline claims that the four Christians have been acquitted. As best I can determine, this is incorrect and not from the original. Also, the first line of the post inserts words not in the original text. These give the impression that a judge dismissed the charges against the four on viewing the video. Again, as best I can determine, the charges were dismissed against six others, but not the four in question, when the judge viewed the video.
We need to continue to push for the DOJ investigation. Public officials, and in particular, the prosecutor, should not be allowed to get away with this outrage!
Any freepers who live in Penn, PLEASE FILE A BAR COMPLAINT ON THESE ATTORNEYS. (contact numbers posted above)
A bar complaint is outside the DOJ and can cost these attorneys their jobs if not their licenses. A bar complaint at the very least may suspend them pending the investigation.
Just noticed how long the post is.... so here it is again.
This is is from the PA bar association web site. This deserves and ethics complaint against these attorneys AND THEIR BOSSES.
They don't seem to have the bar complaint form online. This SCREAMS bar complaint against these lawyers.
http://www.pabar.org/mscfaq.shtml
20. Where do I file a complaint against an attorney?
You will have to contact the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania at one of the following numbers:
If the attorney practices in Philadelphia County, please call (215) 560-6296.
In the rest of Eastern Pennsylvania, call (610) 650-8210.
In Central Pennsylvania, please call (717) 731-7083.
In Western Pennsylvania, call (412) 565-3173
link to ethics rules
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/204/chapter81/s81.4.html
Yes, Amen. I am glad to hear it this morning.
The First Amendment is first for a reason. If that goes, we are truly destroyed as a nation. I live in PA (the conservative middle part) and could not believe this was happening in the state specifically founded for the purpose of religious liberty.
WOnder what William Penn is thinking about all of this as he gazes down upon us?
Sorry, but any policeman in this country who has no more understanding than this on this most fundamental of citizens' rights, has NO business being on the street in any enforcement capacity whatsoever.
MM
I tried that link several times. Did they retract the 'charges dropped' report? I can't find the following sentance:
"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."
Where is it?
It appears that part of this report was retracted. Note that the word, "acquitted" no longer appears in the report, when the word, "acquitted", appears in the web site address. Your suspicion, best I can tell, was right on target.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/society/1303/section/christians.arrested.for.protesting.homosexual.street.fair.now.acquitted/1.htm
btt
Here's what the report is now....
Christians, Arrested for Protesting Homosexual Street Fair
Four Christian men were charged with ''hate crime'' felony when in fact they were peacefully protesting a homosexual street event.
Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005 Posted: 2:18:59PM EST
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.
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“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, and some of them are still facing charges.
“The felony charges in particular are outrageous. We’re talking about expressing an opinion in a public area,” Knight said.
Yes they corrected the article late that day! Took them long enough IMO.
Despite what some Philly Pubs say Lynne Abraham is a twit.
report modified -- no known sense yet
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