Posted on 06/03/2006 3:24:40 PM PDT by ProCivitas
Court: Philly Police May have Conspired with Homosexual Activists Against Pastors
By Gudrun Schultz
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, May 31, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A U.S. district court judge has refused to release the homosexual activist group Philly Pride Presents from a lawsuit brought by members of the Christian group Repent America.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eleven members of Repent America, claiming allegations of a conspiracy between Philly Pride and the Philadelphia police to deny the group free speech during the homosexual celebration of "OutFest" in October 2004.
The group was harassed and prevented from speaking by homosexual activists known as the "Pink Angels," and were arrested by the police and charged with multiple crimes under the Pennsylvania "hate crimes" law. The charges were later dismissed in court.
The eleven members brought a lawsuit against Philly Pride and the city on allegations of conspiracy between Philly Pride and the Philadelphia Police to prevent them from delivering their message.
Judge Lawrence F. Stengel said the allegations had merit and refused to comply with Philly Pride's request to be released from the lawsuit.
"In this case, Plaintiffs have pleaded sufficient facts to infer a conspiracy between the Philly Pride Defendants and the other defendants. The Complaint alleges a number of facts sufficient to support an inference of a conspiracy to deprive Plaintiffs of their constitutional rights."
The lawsuit pointed out that Chief Inspector James Tiano of the Philadelphia Police Department testified during the criminal proceedings that police met with "OutFest" organizers 3 or 4 times beforehand and discussed ways of preventing repent America from gaining access to the event.
"Chief Inspector Tiano's comments seem to make it clear that the City conspired with the organizers of 'OutFest' to ensure that Repent America would not have access to the event to exercise their protected rights under both our state and federal Constitutions," said attorney Ted Hoppe, representing the eleven plaintiffs, in a Repent America press release last week.
"We are most pleased with the [sic] Judge Stengel's decision to deny Philly Pride Presents' motion to dismiss, and look forward to the discovery phase of the case," Repent America director Michael Marcavage said.
"The discovery process will afford us the opportunity to conduct depositions in order to further investigate evidence and document the conspiratorial actions between Philly Pride and the Philadelphia Police to violate our civil rights."
"The City's action at the 'OutFest' event demonstrated a clear hostility toward Repent America and the content of their message," Ted Hoppe said. "Through this lawsuit, we hope to send a message to the City of Philadelphia, its police force, as well as Philly Pride Presents, that they do not have the right to interfere with Repent America's constitutionally protected rights to free speech and free exercise of religion simply because they do not agree with the content of their message."
See related LifeSiteNews coverage:
Prayer and Scripture Reading During Gay Celebration Could Cost Christians 47 Years in Prison http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/dec/04121704.html
Kinda makes you wonder about cops sometimes. About what percent are the wrong sort?
After the Don Adams incident, I am extremely wary about Philadelphia.
Something happen to Agent 86, Maxwell Smart?
Oh yea, take a close look who is running the city.
Not surprised to see this in Philadelphia. Our city council voted almost unanimously for a resolution to pull out of Iraq and had Cindy Sheehan as a welcomed guest when she was in town protesting last year.
BUMP!
You have to remember that Philadelphia is 110% Democrat, so naturally everybody there, including the cops, are going to side with homosexual activists (Democrats) over family-friendly Christians (Republicans).
Different Don Adams. Freeper who has not been seen on this board lately. Back in 1998 he had some anti-Clinton signs, was assualted by the Teamsters led by Johnny Morris. It was all caught by a TV newscam. Still the City of Philadelphia prosecuted Don Adams for assault, in spite of evidence to the contrary (TV video, Channel 3 Eyewitness News). Fast Eddie Rendell was the mayor of Filthadelphia at the time. That's the short story.
You forgot the dead.....
Court:Philly Police May have Conspired with Homosexual Activists Against Pastors (LeftThugs Unite?)
May or may not? What a title. Which is it? Why not find out before doing a story? I guess I don't understand the reason for this story until the investigation is done.
"At a time in life when other men prosper, I'm reduced to living in Philadelphia." (John Adams)
I don't understand your confusion about the title. It seems perfectly clear they are saying the pinkos and police may have conspired against the church group.
During the 2000 election fuss, some freepers had an anti-Gore protest in Philly. There were about 50 of us. We had trouble at all.
Then again, there were 50 of us, and we had a whole bunch of people with CCW in the group.
More on the Philly 11...
I seem to remember as well allegations that there were homosexual activists within the Justice Department as well that conspired -any more on this?
I don't understand your confusion about the title. It seems perfectly clear they are saying the pinkos and police may have conspired against the church group.
I just wish that articles would say they did it or not. I think the church should sue the city and the group of pincos.
Nope.
"You have to remember that Philadelphia is 110% Democrat...."
city of 'Brotherly Love' ping
After Don Adams and other similar issues I am very disabused of respect for the police people.
I wonder where are the outspokens here who want us to all bow down to LEO's.
The video released by the Christian group clearly showed that it was they who were being harassed by the "Pink Angels", and not the other way around.
Radio host Michael Smerconish, who has a morning program in Philadelphia on 1210 AM, clearly sided with the city cops, the DA, and the homosexual activists against the Christians.
His callers vehemently disagreed with him, and Smerconish got quite heated during one radio program.
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