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.
Me too. Nothing on Repent America's site either. You'd think that would be the first thing they'd do is post the good news. Nothing yet.
We can't find this info anywhere else OXEN, not even on the accused Christians website.
LOL, you know blonde is posting and not refreshing the page! LOL More coffee!
We can't find the same info anywhere else. The group that was arrested site is www.repentamerica.com and nothing is posted there yet.
Will ping you with update as soon as we can nail it down. Just taking with a grain of salt at this point. The article didn't mention the name of the judge who dropped the charges and the last bit was a repeat of info we already knew. 11 were arrested but charges were dropped for all but 4, we've known that for about a week.
Also...
Posted by tutstar to paudio
On News/Activism 01/07/2005 7:12:08 AM EST · 49 of 64
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
It just hit me that the title of this should read
Christians arrested for witnessing at homosexual event aquitted.
They weren't there protesting.
Finally a judge with a commitment to First Amendment freedoms for all.
Posted by 4lifeandliberty to StonyBurk
On News/Activism 01/06/2005 11:53:34 AM EST · 56 of 64
We (the Philadelphia 4) had to show up in court on Wednesday jan. 5 to find out when our court date was scheduled for. I, and another of our group had to drive all the way from VA. Once we got there, the court tells us they haven'y set the date yet and we will have to come back next week. Philly is just jerking us around at this point. On Jan. 12, we will find out when the trial will be.
I'm keeping the latest updates posted on our site at: www.lifeandlibertyministries.com
The four are still facing charges and the implication in this article that all have been acquitted is not true.
More news here:
http://www.lifeandlibertyministries.com/
And you're right, can't find confirmation of this story anywhere...
No pun intended, I'm sure....................:)
see my #68
I'm not sure you can prove from this article that the judge dropped the charges against ALL of the defendants. In fact, I could make a case that it only verifies dropping charges against those at the Dec 16 tape viewing.
Have all charges against all defendants actually been dropped?
What's up with that? Something is not right with that.
Many more battles ahead. I fear we will lose some key ones, and hopefully win many key ones. That we won this small one--though quite large for those involved--is grounds for praising God.
Good question! I pinged 4lifeandliberty so maybe we can get some elaboration.
I think we need to draft a letter and start some freeping!
I hope they get very rich.
Very rich indeed.
AND, that they keep the money, too, not promise it to a charity of the day.
Let them keep the money and decide on who and when to donate.
What Philadelphia did shoud be made an example of.
Hmmm... that's interesting. So, where did the reporter from Christian Post get the news, then?
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