Posted on 05/23/2005 4:52:18 AM PDT by bulldozer
Police charge pair with obstructing pedestrian traffic
Two street preachers were arrested Saturday night on the Strip, reigniting a long-standing dispute between police and the American Civil Liberties Union over whether the preachers' actions are protected by the First Amendment.
Jim Webber and Tom Griner were arrested Saturday night in front of the Bellagio and charged with obstructing pedestrian traffic, according to ACLU of Nevada Executive Director Gary Peck.
"We will now sue the county and the police department ... because that is the only way, obviously, to get them to stop," Peck said. He did not give a timetable for when a suit would be filed.
(Excerpt) Read more at reviewjournal.com ...
Looks like another chapter of the ACLU is going to be removed from the "active" rolls.
bookmark - for further reading.
Street preachers arrested on Strip
Police charge pair with obstructing pedestrian traffic
By FRANK CURRERI
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Two street preachers were arrested Saturday night on the Strip, reigniting a long-standing dispute between police and the American Civil Liberties Union over whether the preachers' actions are protected by the First Amendment.
Jim Webber and Tom Griner were arrested Saturday night in front of the Bellagio and charged with obstructing pedestrian traffic, according to ACLU of Nevada Executive Director Gary Peck.
"We will now sue the county and the police department ... because that is the only way, obviously, to get them to stop," Peck said. He did not give a timetable for when a suit would be filed.
A Las Vegas police lieutenant reached Sunday said he had no knowledge of the incident and declined comment.
MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman said Bellagio staff did not complain about the ministers or summon police. "Our staff knows full well that that sort of speech is protected and allowed," Feldman said Sunday.
Webber and Griner regularly carry signs that say "Trust Jesus" and denounce homosexuals and "porno freaks," among others. Both said police often have tried to boot them from sidewalks in front of Strip casinos, claiming either that the land is private property and they are unwanted, or that they are obstructing pedestrian pathways.
Webber and Griner, who recorded Saturday's encounter with police on videotape, said they are preaching on a public right-of-way and that foot traffic moves just fine around them. ACLU officials believe Las Vegas police are violating the duo's First Amendment rights to demonstrate on public property.
The ACLU and Las Vegas police met last year to resolve the ongoing conflict. The police hierarchy has said any citations given street ministers have nothing to do with First Amendment issues and everything to do with them inhibiting foot traffic.
....nothing but a setup for the 'All Communist Lawyers Union' to get some PR done, much like the the setup in TX with the gays who wouldn't quit violating the law when the cops came in.... all a setup
Odd, considering the thousands of illegals handing out brochures and cards for "entertainers" that the cops probably had to walk around to get to these guys.
Tokenism at the ACLU. Otherwise they'd sue because preaching in taxpayer-provided public spaces is a breech of separation of Church and State.
Ping for later pingout.
Have to give credit where credit's due.
Your preacher walks the talk. Bless his heart.
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