Posted on 01/14/2005 4:46:36 AM PST by Arthur Wildfire! March
SPECIAL REPORT [Intermediate Draft-- looking for input]
In Philadelphia, once known as the City of Brotherly Love, eleven Christian protesters were arrested on October 10, 2004, when they paid a homosexual 'block party' a little visit, wielding bullhorns and Bibles, and singing Christian hymns. Leader of 'the Philadelphia Four', as the press is calling it, is Michael Marcavage, who spent a night in jail, along with 10 other protesters. Marcavage is actually leader of a group called Repent America. He is a Christian who may get as many as 47 years in prison for daring to preach to homosexuals, as reported by the Washington Times, Newsmax, WorldNetDaily, local papers in the Philadelphia area, and in several other places.
Here, in South Boston, VA, people are shocked and incredulous that Christians may be thrown in jail for 47 years due to exercising their religion, the South Boston Phoenix has learned [it wasn't hard to find that out, I can tell you]. Repent America is a group of Christians who are no strangers to getting in trouble with the law for preaching, but this time, they got our attention.
The most 'in depth' reporting on this can be found at WorldNetDaily.
True to form, WorldNetDaily made a report just yesterday, "Motion filed for Philadelphia protesters"
"One of the attorneys for the Christian protesters who are criminally charged for evangelizing at an outdoor homosexual event in Philadelphia has renewed an appeal in federal court, citing the Supreme Court statement "Speech cannot be ... punished or banned simply because it might offend a hostile mob." [forced self to snip]
In an earlier report, WorldNetDaily interviewed Mike Shaw, a cameraman who was there.
Mr. Shaw was not a member of Repent America, but the police thought he was "one of them", so they took 'appropriate steps' against that 'nasty Christian'.
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[WorldNetDaily]
..."I had one foot in the paddy wagon," he said. "They were making me take my camera and headphones off" before finally being given a reprieve. The filmmaker said he was surprised the protesters were charged with so many criminal counts. "I've seen a lot of people from where we're from do a lot worse things and get in a lot less trouble," he said. "Everyone thought they'd just get a slap on the wrist."...[forced self to snip]
Link to the WorldNetDaily Report
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What saved Mike Shaw from arrest was when he convinced them he lived in San Fransisco. That's OK then, they decided. Now his film of the sinister Christian preaching outrage can be linked to at that web site.
Also in their report, WorldNetDaily wrote,
'Shaw says he sees the arrest as a "Christian Rodney King."'
Here is a quote from the Washington Times regarding the Philadelphia Four:
Christians face hearing in felonies at gay rights event
By Joyce Howard Price
"Four Christian activists face arraignment ... in Philadelphia on felony charges in what they describe as their "peaceful protest" of a homosexual rights event last fall. The defendants, all members of an evangelical Christian group called Repent America, "exercised their First Amendment rights by preaching the Gospel, and they did it peacefully," said Brian Fahling, an attorney for the American Family Association, who is representing them... [snip]
Link to Washington Times Report
[The Washington Times also reports that the Philadelphia Four may possibly serve as long as 47 years in prison on felony counts.]
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The key word in this entire fiasco is "ethnic intimidation". It is a hate crime law, reports the Washington Times, which quoted Mr. Fahling, who said it was "the most profound abuse of power I've ever seen."
Robert Knight had strong words on this subject. He's director of the Culture and Family Institute. "Even if Repent America infringed on the law, they don't deserve three felony counts totaling 47 years in jail," and said it was "frightening to see religious persecution on American soil, especially in the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence." [Washington Times quote]
Philadelphia was so delighted with Outfest, that they contributed $22,000 of city funds, tax payer money, to help the sodomites along with their 'get together' on an allegedly "public" street. Oh, and they also had 'extremely large signs' that I suppose intimidated the girly men.
The police ordered the Christians to move where they would not disrupt this 'illustrious, gay-la' event. The Christians stood up to 500 angry sodomites and the shouted warnings of police officers. Now, some of these Christians face up to 47 years in prison! IN AMERICA! FOR PREACHING!
One of the charges was "possessing an instrument of crime - presumably the bullhorn," wrote the Washington Times. I wonder if the real instrument of crime was the Bible?
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I took snips to use as a sounding board, found at Delcotimes.com [a local Philly paper], copyrighted by the Daily Times. [My remarks in brackets] Saint or sinner?Court to rule on religious activist, by JASON McKEE, newsroom@delcotimes.com, 1/12/2005:
"Michael Marcavage, 25, of Lansdowne, will be in court today to answer to felony charges of riot, ethnic intimidation (the ethnicity being homosexuality, per state law) and conspiracy..."[CONSPIRED TO READ THE BIBLE!], in addition to several misdemeanor charges. Police have had numerous 'run ins' with the man [HE IS INDEED A MAN!] and, according to one arrest report, found him to be more troublemaker than activist. [THE BIBLE IS TROUBLING, ALL RIGHT.]
Eventually, Marcavage was arrested and hauled away from the party. [A SODOMITE PARTY IN A PUBLIC STREET. THEY SURE KNOW HOW TO HAVE A GOOD TIME IN PHILADELPHIA. A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO 'BROTHERLY LOVE'.]
"This has to do with the content of our message," Marcavage said. "We’re being maliciously prosecuted by an anti-Christian, Lynne Abraham."
[I like that term, "anti-Christian". ] Cathie Abookire, spokeswoman for the district attorney, said the office had no comment other than to say everyone’s rights must be protected. [EVERYONE BUT CHRISTIANS!]
One condition of Marcavage’s bail is that he stay at least 100 feet from homosexual events. [He's now officially a sub-citizen. But in truth, all Christians are already sub-citizens whether we realize it or not.]
"I don’t even know what it means," he said. "It’s ambiguous. Does it mean I’m not allowed to be near gay people?" [He uses the word 'gay'. He's liberal compared to me. Perhaps he should bow with his eyes toward the ground when a sodomite walks past him. I suppose two men, reeking of feces, walking hand-in-hand, would be considered a homosexual event. He better be careful then, when shopping. People notice such 'events' all the time.]
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There is a quote in that report worth remembering:
"When someone is speaking, if the crowd does not like it and there is a threat of violence, you don’t suppress the speech -- you control the crowd," Fahling, an AFA lawyer, said. "The First Amendment serves its highest purpose when people are stirred to anger." [WELL SAID!]
C. Scott Shields, who is representing him in multiple cases, said, "This case is unprecedented. This is the first time the Bible has formed the evidentiary basis for a hate crime. The authorities consider the Bible hate speech."
Here are remarks from the greatest think-tank in the world, the trail blazing forum, freerepublic.com:
[some posts will be added]
...
...
South Boston is not taking this sitting down. Residents of South Boston tell me, if the outcome is not to leave the Christians alone, they will be starting up a petition drive here in South Boston. The petition will include three statements:
1. A threat to boycott Philadelphia products.
2. A plea for the promise to pardon any Christian in legal trouble for reading the Bible or preaching.
3. A demand that the US House of Representatives declare Philadelphia to be no longer the city of Brotherly Love, but rather, "the Armpit of America", at my suggestion.
The South Boston Phoenix will open a post office box ASAP, and encourage any petitioners to mail there.
You can also contact the AFA, a support group of the Philadelphia Four at the following web page:
Quick Load Page for latest in the news.
I didn't know that saying things someone disagrees with is just cause for assault.
Here's another point I just thought of. What about all those rapper-freaks driving around with loud, obscene rap music? Will they ever be locked up? And for how long? They seem to have an incredible level of Free Speech.
would someone please file a bar complaint against these prosecutors! Landmark Legal foundation http://www.landmarklegal.org may be able to help with that.
They are the ones who filed a bar complaint against the prosecutor on the palm beach prosecutors.
Why is this important? Almost ALL federal judges have been appointed from the ranks of the DOJ in recent years. A bar complaint against these homosexual lawyers who abused their badges will have this as a blemish on their records regardless of the outcome. It will come up on the off chance any are nominated for the bench. (I guarantee all of them would just loooooove to be judges)
It will also send a message to other government lawyers who may consider similar actions. They will have to respond to a bar complaint and risk their entire career in order to repeat this stunt.
Then you’ve never seen a street protest on a very divisive emotional issue crashed by the bullhorn carrying opposition.
God bless Mark Levin and the Legal Landmark Foundation! They've been busy. Quite a list, there!
I ask this respectfully because anyone studying that web site generally has my respect. Why prosecutors when the judge presides? I don't claim to know it all by any means.
FReegards....
We must have watched two different videos!
I suggest anyone interested go watch video for yourself rather than just accepting elfman's take.
My goodness, this is happening in a place where Homosexuals are not enlisted in the hate crimes, how much worse can it be for countries which do have homosexuals included in the hate crime?.
Urg... you answered my question in your post before I asked it. =/
Hm... nail these clowns before they get close to being appointed. Interesting concept....
"My goodness, this is happening in a place where Homosexuals are not enlisted in the hate crimes, how much worse can it be for countries which do have homosexuals included in the hate crime?"
I've tried to 'talk' with Canadians in private email about hate crime laws and what they are forbidden from saying. I never got a clear, direct response. It's a bit creepy. But maybe I wasn't asking the right people. They seem concerned that they could get in trouble from what they send in emails.
On the other hand, if we nail a few here-and-there as prosecutors, would the rest simply go underground and get sneakier? I'm thinking we need to dust off the impeachment powers and actually use them.
I was speaking figuratively - Oh that clears that up!
They crashed a permitted gay protest - Crashed = what showing up to exercise freedom of speech?
marched toward the stage, refused police instructions to go to their counter protest area - were you wearing your tinfoil glasses when you viewed this on the video?
began chanting through bull horns - Oh no...shoot them!
They left the police zero alternative - Yea right Mr Rather!
Have you watched the video?
At 6:08 what looks like the head cop on the scene says, “Look, You were told to go to Walnut Street. Put their gear in the wagon. You’re all under arrest.”
Life's too short to waste on that kind of dialogue. Don’t talk to me about this again. I won’t read you.
Yes I have. But I'm able to refrain from violence.
Thank you for your vital post. FReegards....
Please tell me about it. And would you recommend that it be allowed in all future cases?
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