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.
Sounds like the DA thought she had to include something that pointed to the opposing ideologies of the two groups, but she opened herself up to charges of religious persecution by including it. Looks like overreaching on both sides, but what do I know. I don’t even play a lawyer on television.
I've never been to the beltway and I grew up on the streets. One of the first lessons you learn on the streets is how to tell when someone is trying to sell you a bogus story. Your continued attempts to get people to look at anything but the facts of the story have convinced me that the defendants do not have clean hands.
I've tried to give you good advice on how to minimize the penalties your friends will face but you seem determined to see them get the maximum sentences possible under the law.
So be it. I hope they appreciate your efforts on their behalf but if I were them I wouldn't want your help. They have gotten themselves into a lot of trouble but you seem determined to make it much worse.
Fools never learn, they just blame others for their mistakes.
So you guys would have comitted the crime of assault and battery, but she should have been arrested. Check!
BTTT
[cyber sword briefly lowered in respect]
I agree that people can lose self control.
"Everyone breaks at some point after being pushed. The prosecutor in this case used the phrase “fighting words”."
You do make a good point, and that is our fundamental difference of opinion, I think. I respect the courage of protestors. You are concerned about riots. It's a difficult balancing act. But I see no balance if someone could, in theory, be locked up for 47 years for preaching with a bullhorn, waving a large sign, and even resist police crowd control efforts. That should not be even possible in the law.
I didn't have confidence in quoting the 'fighting words' statement. I noticed Newsmax made a carefully phrased report on 'fighting words'. Do you have any definite ink-paper quotes on that?
FReegards....
Yeah right, do you also have some beach front property you are selling? Apparantly you havent seen the video in question. What part of free speech do you not understand? One can peacably protest in the public area and they were directed to the area where they could peacably protest - while walking there they were arrested. Im sure your all for having our rights delegated to us by unelected judges or homosexual activists or the ACLU. Just so I know who Im dealing with, what part of the constitution specifically states the seperation of church and state?
Ok, maybe I don't agree with what the Christian group did, but Prison time? For preaching? If this is a trend, it may be time for another revolutionary war.
"I've never been to the beltway and I grew up on the streets."
That's the thing. Beltway thinking is creeping in here. People may not even see it in themselves.
You are very knoweldgeable on legal matters. That has its place. I do, in fact, appreciate your advice.
But don't forget, they can be pardoned. And that is one of my trump cards in this fight. If they get locked up, they will, I believe, be pardoned and cleared, although it might take a new and more conservative president.
FReegards....
Your friends were arrested for violating a valid police order and now you're going overthrow the whole judicial system because you don't like their arrest. Sure you are.
You really need a reality check.
I'm even assuming the worst. Assuming if they resisted the instructions of the police, how much time should protesters get for that?
"...you're going overthrow the whole judicial system because you don't like their arrest. Sure you are."
It's been a long time coming. 40 million slaughtered unborn, for starters.
I think it's high time we made an example of certain judges. I'm mainly thinking on the Federal level, actually. No doubt, there will be an effort to appeal.
"Ok, maybe I don't agree with what the Christian group did, but Prison time? For preaching? If this is a trend, it may be time for another revolutionary war."
We meed to keep our fighting spirit alive. Then a revolutionary war would not be necessary. These people committed harmless, civil disobedience, and I was with them in spirit. I am fed up with activist homosexuals.
We vote in police authority to separate opposition protests so that the crime of assault and battery isn’t inevitable. So that little girls like her can have a voice, so that you don't have to be a big guy or carry a weapon to protest.
You’re wrong. Even in the version produced by the protestors, you can hear the head police officer finally walk up past the others and say, “I told you to go to Chestnut Street. You’re under arrest”. That’s inconsistent with “walking there”.
Pride comes before a fall. The homosexuals have been proud while the Christians have been meek. The judiciary has been proud, while the Christians have been humble. This WILL CHANGE. FReegards....
The same part that says you can start riots by marching into opposition protests with bull horns and refuse police orders to move to Chestnut Street. ;^)
Thank you. AFA press release quotes the judge.
http://www.afa.net/clp/ReleaseDetail.asp?id=78
"The federal appeals court in Philadelphia denied emergency relief despite video footage Fahling calls “undisputed evidence” that shows the Christians cooperating with police and continually being harassed by the Pink Angels, a group of homosexuals organized to impede the gospel message. Philadelphia city prosecutor in the case, Charles Ehrlich, attacked the Christians as “hateful” and referred to preaching the Bible as “fighting words,” the judge agreed."
Same, carefully worded quote at Newsmax. 'referred'. I guess I'll steer past it, then. Thank you again, FReegards...
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