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.
If any of these people receive even a one day sentence, its time for that court to evaporate.
" I HOLD THE LAW IN CONTEMPT."
You need some rest.
"I'm a Christian and if this moron and his crew show up on my street to "preach" with bullhorns I'll call the police and expect to see them hustled off for disturbing the peace, at the very least."
Of course. I'm not saying they are immune to any punishment. Maybe they could clean a highway or something. But felony sentancing comparable to violent crimes? We are the peasants. This is their country now. We're only around to be taxed and to cheerlead their 'diversity' with painted smiles. We need to take America back!
This 'legal system' is a disgrace. It has created a modern holocaust. It has forbidden the TRUE law makers from forbidding the NEA from defunding vile 'art'.
You may not care that there's a disparity in the law. I do.
"If any of these people receive even a one day sentence, its time for that court to evaporate."
Glad to see someone else gives a fig.
I have no respect for anyone trying to punch someone into silence. If anyone did hit that girl, they would deserve to get the book thrown at them. That might bother you. But I celebrate freedom of speech. You appear to be sympathizing with people who need to be protected from their own lack of self-control. But they did, in fact, control themselves. That is to be commended. Should she get any jail time for what she did?
Yes. The defendants don't tell the entire story of what happened. The tape does.
That’s what we do when they say they’re sorry and promise not to crash any more permitted opposition protest, rather than start a phony media campaign.
I suspect some of these guys are praying for felony convictions. That’ll prompt a few zealots to idolize their every jail cell soliloquy and follow them like lemmings once out. But the judge is not the only one who needs to be concerned with a larger backlash.
Asking questions of the right people wouldn't sell all those "Y2K survival kits" that WND was hawking.
So what quote was falsely made?
And you keep raising the bar for f***-ups--now you want specific quotes. Sorry, WND expended all their credit with me in 1999. CBS had already expended theirs long before that, but the key point is that WND and CBS are of equal credibility with me (i.e., none).
I mean, See-BS is well beneath the level of Y2K reporting, since the forgery was so obvious.
And WND is using the same level of fact-checking that CBS is.
You appear to be making up more wild accusations without reason.
And then we quit shooting obnoxious a$$holes, so now we need to stage-manage every frickin' public event.
Yes, I question this forum's brain power.
"Freepers are not sheep that you can throw into a spin machine to get the result you desire."
I don't mention this much, but I've been on this forum before there was even registration, and very outspoken from day one. You don't need to tell me how it is. There used to be some very shrewd people here, people more in touch with the streets than with the beltway. Many of the 'street fighters' have left. Many 'beltway' types have taken their place.
I think there's room for both kinds of people here. The street has not completely left this forum. And that is where JimRob comes from, the street. I don't want to drive out the beltway, but if that mindset takes over completely, this place will be worthless.
There's even one guy trying to discredit the Washington Times, here. Talk about beltway thinking! Many people here are getting a little bit snoody, I would say. Even Rush quotes WND, and all talk radio quotes the Washington Times.
She eventually left the area, remember? If she had repeatedly refused police orders to move out of her opposition's area, she absolutely needed to be arrested. And it wouldn't have been any more because she was black than these guys were arrested because they were Christian.
"You appear to be making up more wild accusations without reason."
You mentioned people ready to jump a cute girl because of what she said, as though that is an example of why protests need to be cracked down on. That puts on the appearance of sympathizing with people who lack self control. I was not making a wild accusation.
You didn't even answer my question. How much jail time does she deserve?
I'm sure sure you believe you have a hot line straight to God but the Judge in this case will be in a Philadelphia Court Room. If you keep insulting his Court he may decide a long prison sentence would give the protesters plenty of time to discuss homosexuality with their new cell mates. Don't worry they won't need their loudspeakers, these discussions will be up close and personal.
Can you explain the "ethnic intimidation" charge? They lost me with that one.
"I'm sure sure you believe you have a hot line straight to God..."
Very cute. I'm talking about a complete overhaul of the judicial system. God is not the one I have a hot line to. I have a hot line to the street. It's white hot out there. Even Justice Rehnquist is concerned that we are going to politicize the courts. He's chastizing people for calling for the impeachment of judges. Rush was pondering that the other day. And I think that it's high time we kick some of those bums out.
Everyone breaks at some point after being pushed. The prosecutor in this case used the phrase “fighting words”. That girl and these Christians didn’t go to their opposition to persuade, display unity or prove their commitment. The way they did it was optimized to start trouble by needling their opposition so that someone else would throw the first punch and they could play their media as victims.
She was persuaded to leave. So just the threat of arrest was good enough to bring civility back to her behavior.
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