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.
The police are liable. It is no defense to follow the unlawful directions of someone else, no matter who is giving them. the law is so clear that the cops had an unmistakable duty to tell the DoJ activists to stick it up their a$$. ,P> The 'following orders defense' didn't work at Nuremburg and it won't work here. That they followed directions of a DoJ lawyer may be a mitigating factor in the amount of their liability, they are still liable.
Don't be too sure. Look at Canada and Australia. Both now say preaching against homosexuality is "hate speech". While I am very happy these charges were dropped, the fact they could be brought in the first place and go as far as it did is chilling.
I've searched the news and there's nothing else out there about it yet.
definition - Berserk \Ber"serk\, Berserker \Ber"serk*er\, n. [Icel. berserkr.] (Scand. Myth.) Legendary Viking heroes, who worked themselves up to a fever pitch and went into battle naked and screaming.
*snicker*
poing
Thankfully the charges were dropped. That these men were arrested and charged in the first place is a very scary thing.
This is confusing IMO, we knew that charges had already been dropped against some of them. Anyone have any info which judge this is?
Yes, expose the fraud, and thank God there is at least one judge in Philly with common sense.
Nothing about it on Philadelphia DA's site... http://www.phila.gov/districtattorney/case/prelease.asp?id=125
1/7/2005
Daily Case Updates
New case listings and updates
FRIDAY JANUARY 7, 2005
1.CYNTHIA POWELL AND JOSEPH BEST----SENTENCING 9:30AM--CJC1001---BEST CONVICTED 10-15-04 OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND WEAPONS OFFENSES, AND POWELL CONVICTED OF WEAPONS OFFENSES FOR THE 2-23-03 WEST PHILADELPHIA SHOOTING, WHICH WAS SPARKED BY A SNOWBALL FIGHT, OF 10-YEAR-OLD EBONY SMITH.
ADA DEBORAH NIXON 686-8988
THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2005
NO CASES ARE LISTED FOR COURT
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 5, 2005
NO CASES ARE LISTED FOR COURT
TUESDAY JANUARY 4, 2005
NO CASES ARE LISTED FOR COURT
MONDAY JANUARY 3, 2005
1. SEAN BROWN------JURY SELECTION---CJC1008--9am---CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF MURDER, TWO COUNTS OF RAPE AND RELATED OFFENSES FOR THE 9-3-03 DEATHS OF PATRICIA HENRY, 51, HER 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, PATRICIA STALLWORTH, AND JAMES COFER, 52, IN THEIR CRESCENTVILLE HOME.
ADA JOANNE PESCATORE 686-8045
2. GREGORY GOLDEN---PRELIMINARY HEARING---1801 VINE ST., 'B' COURT---9AM---CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS OF BURGLARY, INDECENT EXPOSURE, OPEN LEWDNESS AND RELATED OFFENSES FOR A SERIES OF OCTOBER, 2004 BREAK-INS AND ASSAULTS ON WOMEN AND GIRLS INSIDE THE VICTIMS' HOMES IN KENSINGTON.
ADA TBA
3. RONALD WILLIAMS---JURY SELECTION---CJC 9AM---1107---CHARGED WITH MURDER AND RELATED OFFENSES FOR THE MARCH 12, 2002 MURDER OF SOLOMON SACKS INSIDE HIS OVERBROOK STORE, 'BEST DEAL DISCOUNT FOOTWEAR AND CLOTHING' ON THE 6500-BLOCK OF LANSDOWNE AVE. IN OVERBROOK.
ADA JOHN DOYLE 686-8067
FRIDAY DECEMBER 31, 2004
NO CASES ARE LISTED FOR COURT
I'm not too sure about this report. Need more info.
PA Christians face 47 years for reading Bible in public and condemning homosexuality and abortion
U.S. attorneys complicit in arrest of Christians?
You can see the video as well as read some other stuff at the site of the accused. Repent America
Good to hear at least one Judge in that state in sane...
I agree about the tv exposure. I have searched philly.com a couple of times to try and find a local article about it. NONE, nada! I wonder how many of the city's people even knew about it.
What! Common sense and sanity breaking out. Goodness.
Not yet, anyway.
Judge Austin Meehan who was the first judge with the case (article is unclear which judge dropped the charges) also prohibited them (originally 11) from evangelizing within 100 yards of any homosexual event!!! The four who still had charges hanging over their head was because they were the only ones on the video who were heard quoting scripture. This definitely needs to be followed up by those who were arrested. The DOJ guys need to be fired!
I believe it! Christians outnumber homosexuals by a long shot but we are so quiet. We forget that Christ cleansed the temple of the moneychangers with a WHIP! We're very quiet way too often!
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