Posted on 02/04/2005 2:16:58 AM PST by Boot Hill
'Philly 5' lose round in federal court,
prosecutors get away with calling
defendants' words 'hateful'
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
In another blow to the "Philly 5" – the Philadelphia Christians facing possible 47 year jail terms for evangelizing at a homosexual event – a federal judge has refused a request to stop the local prosecution of the group.
Judge Petrese B. Tucker, for the second time, has refused to sanction the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office for what the Christians' attorneys say are "retaliatory criminal proceedings."
According to the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, which is representing the Christians on the federal level, Tucker denied the request for relief last week, saying the Philly 5 had "insufficient evidence ... regarding why any of the defendants would want to stifle their First Amendment rights."
The group's attorneys had presented as evidence their clients' First Amendment rights were violated the fact that Assistant District Attorney Charles Ehrlich told an earlier court proceeding the Christians' religious speech was "hateful, disgusting, despicable words," and "fighting words."
As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, a group of 11 Christians was "preaching God's Word" to a crowd of people attending the Philadelphia "OutFest" event and displaying banners with biblical messages.
After a confrontation with a group called the Pink Angels, described by protesters as "a militant mob of homosexuals," the Christians were arrested and spent a night in jail.
Eight charges were filed: criminal conspiracy, possession of instruments of crime, reckless endangerment of another person, ethnic intimidation, riot, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways.
None of the Pink Angels was cited or arrested.
After a preliminary hearing in December, Judge William Austin Meehan ordered four of the Christians to stand trial on three felony and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could each get a maximum of 47 years in prison. One female teenage protester faces charges in the juvenile justice system.
Brian Fahling is senior trial attorney for the law center.
Said Fahling in a statement: "The law requires us to show bad faith or retaliation by the D.A.'s office; we established that beyond argument with a videotape of the entire incident that shows our clients peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights, then being arrested and charged with crimes that carry a potential for 47 years imprisonment, and a district attorney's office that retaliated against them because it hates their speech.
"It is difficult to conceive of more compelling evidence of bad faith and retaliation than what we have presented to the court in this case."
Fahling colleague Michael DePrimo added: "There has never been a stronger case for federal court intervention based upon allegations of bad faith and retaliation than [the Philly 5] presented to Judge Tucker. … Prior to taking the bench, Judge Tucker was an assistant district attorney for Philadelphia for eight years; she is undoubtedly aware that peaceful expression of First Amendment rights is not criminal."
The next hearing date scheduled for the Christians is Feb. 17, when the court will consider their motion to dismiss the case. Seventeen-year-old Lauren Murch's trial date is Feb. 18.
ping for later....
"The Nazi's rose to power in the most literate, best educated state in Europe. The signs of what they were was all around, yet most did nothing till it was to late."
Aren't you leaving out WWI and what the nations of Europe and US did to Germany?
Why doesn't any big talk show host talk of this? Rush is such a wuss.
You are right. If WWI and the flu wouldn't have happened, the world would be very different.
"You are right. If WWI and the flu wouldn't have happened, the world would be very different."
Actually the French Revolution and that supposed period of Enlightenment is what started the ball rolling for Communism and the blood letting that followed.
I just can't believe
this is happening. I read
the text, but my mind
just kind of goes numb
when I try to think it through.
This must be dismissed
on some grounds before
the actual trial. They must
not go through with this.
The Philly 5 maybe facing some hard times now, but boy, will they ever be rewarded for it. Prayers sent for all those involved.
Best Regards
Sergio
Ping
Found it a download form 12/27/2001 Hard truth webpage-
West Virginia-- Paul Sheridan has been teaching for years from a teaching manual Crafted by former US Attorney General Janet Reno,aimed at a law enforcement audiance."
"Under Hategroup idiology"identification it is written
"Homophobia recently has been added to their agenda.". . .
The same section identifies some hate-mongers as "those who
blame the Federal government, an International Jewish conspiracy, or commuism for most of this countries problems.some groups include apocalyptic Christianity in
their idiology and believe we are in ,or approaching, a period of violence and social turmoil which will preceed the Second COming of Christ."
"And now, we're stepping into the twilight zone"
Actually, it looks like we are already there.
And, BTW-- MOST of the "so called" christians are falling right into the mindset of"well, it's not us their after, so eat, drink and be merry".
This kind of thing, of calling good, evil, and vice versa,and then saying"it's not my problem", while the forces of evil continue to make inroads is EXACTLY what I am referring when I say:
"All part of the big plan".
"Furthermore it's a sign of the end times when you are persecuted for being a Christian and speaking your beliefs."
Christians have been persecuted since day one. According to you, the end times started in 33AD.
The end times will come, but this is not a sign of them.
Well said
47 years in jail for having an opinion. 47 years in jail for having an opinion. And there's video, for cryin' out loud!
This is unbelievable.
I knew it was out there somewhere.
At least we know what a Dean presidency would have been like...
The Bible is an instrument of crime????
We live in a police state. Constitutional rights are no more.
ACT-UP disrupted the ordination of new priests at Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston by throwing condoms at them and shouting the usual anti-Catholic screed. No charges were filed.
And series!
As a matter of fact, ACT up, the militant homosexual group, has gotten away with much worse. That's because they are a "minority," and special leaway must be given to "minorities."
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