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.
"Given that they were demanding prison, why should they complain about how much they get?"
So what they did was worse than most violent crimes? I see. I am beginning to question the brain power of this forum.
"..probably invented that number by adding the maximum of the three charges..."
If that is how the law is written, that is simply a mathematical calculation. Truth. Invent? Why the wording, 'invent'? And what kind of legal trouble would an Islamic get into if he or she crashed a Christmas parade the same way? "Infidels will burn in the fiery pit!" Yeah, so they would get into all of this heat. Right....
Get a new eye doctor.
These people were demanding that they go to prison. They have no call to complain about the prospect of getting their demands overfilled. And, incidentally, given their failure to fully disclose the circumstances of their arrest, I have reason to question the veracity of their "47 year" claim.
Lie to me once, by commission or omission, and I'm going to have a hard time trusting you.
I am beginning to question the brain power of this forum.
Yeah, when people take WND's crap as gospel truth, that's plenty of grounds for such questioning.
It isn't, and the defendants know that by now.
Truth.
Yeah, sure, after their first lie, I'm supposed to buy their next statement as gospel truth.
Invent? Why the wording, 'invent'?
It fits for me--the actual facts of sentencing would result in concurrent, not consecutive, sentences.
And what kind of legal trouble would an Islamic get into if he or she crashed a Christmas parade the same way? "Infidels will burn in the fiery pit!" Yeah, so they would get into all of this heat. Right....
Actually, they would.
You think the WND is junk, huh? Please name one false report they made. I've yet to hear one. Certainly there is one. I've just never found one. Even if there is one, surely they do a better job than See-BS. Please name me your news source of choice. Oh and BTW, the Washington Times confirms most of what WND is reporting.
"I hope those bible thumping christians get prison for something so ridiculous."
Thank you for your input. [No comment necessary.]
Yes.
Please name one false report they made.
Their doomsday reporting on Y2K was so error-riddled that it was posted as humor in IT industry break rooms...
And most of their "reporting" is fact-free opinionating.
I've just never found one.
Most people don't find things that they refuse to look for.
Even if there is one, surely they do a better job than See-BS. Please name me your news source of choice.
Firsthand accounts by eyewitnesses who have not been demonstrated to be lying, whether by commission or omission.
Oh and BTW, the Washington Times confirms most of what WND is reporting.
SFW? I don't trust Moonies.
I called on Tuesday or Wednesday. I got through to the screener 3 times, can you believe that? The screener didn't want to put me on. I asked if Rush knew about this story and he said, he probably does, he reads alot of news. But it wasn't national so he doesn't think the audiance would be interested.(?) I really don't know what I'll say other than let his listeners aware of it and hopefully he will take the ball from there.
Can we arrange a huge protest for the next rally?
Check philly.com also. They have been reporting on it.
There's a video. Have you watched it?
You make a good point about Y2K. Perhaps they asked the wrong people questions back then. So what quote was falsely made? I mean, See-BS is well beneath the level of Y2K reporting, since the forgery was so obvious.
And then you trash the Washington Times. But you failed to mention any news you trust.
Regarding a rally, I live down near the NC border. I don't know about any rallies down here. People are just at the planning stage about petitions. Don't worry. We will move forward. I just wanted a 'vetting' here. We're getting an excellent exam from head to toe, along with some great cheap shots. It's all good. FReegards....
"There's a video. Have you watched it?"
Excellent point. As far as I'm concerned, this is a question about hate crimes laws. People can rant against these Christians all they want. Freedom of speech, free exercize of religion, those RIGHTS we have must tone down any penalties regarding speech nad religion. The power to imprison is the power to suppress.
FReegards....
"Thank you for your effort."
My pleasure.
I quit taking them seriously years ago when they published a purported satellite picture of a Chinese neutron bomb test that, upon modest inspection, was as bogus as Dan Rather's TANG memos.
With the Philly story, they had a scoop that Justice Department lawyers were directing the arrest and prosecution. I think that's bogus - I have seen nothing to back it up, and the Philly DA's office is perfectly capable of false prosecution against conservative protestors without any help from the feds.
YOu're right! I feel the same way. I'm calling my local Christian radio stations today to ask them to report it during their news segments.
"He and his party crashed a permitted protest and refused to go to a counter protest area that he was instructed to move to."
Sounds like "regulating" speech in Philly is already a constitutional threat.
ping
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