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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...

'Philly 11' win round against 'gay' group Judge refuses to release homosexual organization from Christians' lawsuit A federal judge has ruled that the homosexual activist group called Philly Pride Presents has to face the legal wrath of 11 Christians who were arrested for protesting a "gay pride" event in the City of Brotherly Love. On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence F. Stengel issued a 17-page opinion denying the homosexual group's motion to dismiss, which had sought to release the group from a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Christian protesters – who came collectively to be known as "the...

PHILADELPHIA - The law firm of Shields & Hoppe, LLP has filed a lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia and others on behalf of the eleven members of Repent America, who were arrested as a result of their efforts to minister the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ at a homosexual event called "OutFest", which was held in the public streets of Philadelphia on October 10, 2004. The six men and five women were charged with three felonies, which included the "hate crime" of ethnic intimidation, along with conspiracy, incitement to riot, in addition to five misdemeanor charges. The Christians spent...

Life and Liberty Ministries This years outreach at the Philadelphia Outfest went quite differently from last years event. We had a tremendous six-plus hours of ministry without interuption. The police worked with Repent America's Michael Marcavage to ensure that the outreach participants would be unmolested by some of the more hostile hearers. The preaching was powerful and thousands of the celebrants went home having heard the powerful message of salvation. Pray for those who stood around to hear the preaching, those who we had conversations with, and and those who were convicted by the large presence of Gospel messages on...

Members arrested last year after confrontation with 'militant gays' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: October 8, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com A Christian group whose protest of a Philadelphia homosexual event one year ago resulted in criminal charges for some of its members will be present again tomorrow at the annual celebration despite threats of violence. Repent America says it will be on the streets of Philadelphia to "minister the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ and to take a stand against the public celebration of sin" at "OutFest 2005." As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, 2004, Repent America had a group...

PHILADELPHIA - On Sunday, October 9, Repent America (RA) will be coming out of the closet to minister the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ and to take a stand against the public celebration of sin at "OutFest 2005," an annual homosexual celebration in the public streets of Philadelphia, despite threats of violence by a militant group of homosexuals. This will be the first year that the Christians with RA will return after being arrested, jailed for 21 hours, and charged with a hate crime for evangelizing at last year's festival. At the event last year, six men and five women...

Pro-Family Leader Demands Apology; Christian Group Pursues Legal Redress - The American Family Association of Pennsylvania is demanding that a judge apologize to members of a Christian group who were arrested during an outreach to homosexuals for comparing the street ministers to Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. Meanwhile, though acquitted, the Christian activists may be heading back into court. Last week, Judge Pamela Dembe of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas dropped all charges against adult defendants belonging to the Christian group Repent America, who were arrested last fall for witnessing during a homosexual pride event in Philadelphia....

'Philly 5' Are Free! - Philadelphia Judge Clears Christian Demonstrators of 'Hate Crimes' Charges By Allie Martin February 17, 2005 (AgapePress) - All charges have been dropped against four Christians who were arrested in October for sharing the gospel at a pro-homosexual event in Philadelphia. Charges pending against a minor who was also arrested at the time are expected to be dismissed as well. Last fall, Philadelphia police arrested 11 Christians as they were taking part in street witnessing on a public sidewalk at a "gay pride" event. Charges were dropped against six of the believers in January, but the...

(Still, One Group Concerned by Dembe's Comparison with KKK, Nazis) The Philadelphia judge who on Thursday dismissed "hate crime" charges against a group of Christians is being praised for her decision. But one pro-family group in that state is a bit miffed by a statement the judge made in explaining the rationale behind the ruling. Calling the charges against the group of Christian demonstrators "ludicrous" and an "abuse of power," family advocates are expressing their pleasure about this week's developments in the "Philly 5" case. Four members of the Philadelphia-based group Repent America who had been arrested in October faced...

Charges against four of five Christian demonstrators who were arrested after protesting a homosexual celebration called "OutFest" in Philadelphia, Pa., last year were dismissed Thursday, with charges against the fifth due to be dismissed shortly thereafter. Eleven Christian protesters were arrested in October 2004 for peacefully preaching at the event. Four men and 17-year-old Lauren Murch were held for trial on criminal charges, which included "riot" and "ethnic intimidation." All five faced as many as 47 years in prison if convicted on all charges. "We are pleased and relieved for our clients that justice has finally been done in the...

TESTING THE FAITH Judge drops all charges against Philly Christians Adults who evangelized at homosexual event vindicated, teen girl likely off hook tomorrow -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: February 17, 2005 12:33 p.m. Eastern © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com In what is being hailed as a victory for free speech, a judge in Philadelphia today dismissed all criminal charges against four Christians who were arrested for evangelizing at an outdoor homosexual event. Judge Pamela Dembe of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas dismissed the charges, saying that she found no basis whatsoever for any of them. "We are one of the very few countries...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A judge dismissed all charges Thursday against four members of a conservative Christian group who were arrested last fall while picketing a street festival for gays. After watching video footage of the event, Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe said that while the protesters' message that homosexuality is a sin clearly enraged the crowd, the bullhorn-wielding demonstrators did not incite violence. "We are one of the very few countries that protect unpopular speech. And that means that Nazis can March in Skokie, Ill. ... That means that the Ku Klux Klan can march where they wish to," Dembe...

In what is being hailed as a victory for free speech, a judge in Philadelphia today dismissed all criminal charges against four Christians who were arrested for evangelizing at an outdoor homosexual event. Judge Pamela Dembe of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas dismissed the charges, saying that she found no basis whatsoever for any of them...

(CBN News) - It is a story that has the Christian community on the edge of its seat. In Philadelphia, 11 Christians were arrested and charged under Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law (the Ethnic Intimidation Act), for preaching the Gospel. The arrests took place at a homosexual event last October, and five of the 11 still face serious criminal charges. Twenty-five-year-old Michael Marcavage is at the center of a case that could determine whether preaching the Gospel is a hate crime; specifically, whether preaching against homosexuality is a hate crime. Marcavage, who has a ministry called Repent America, and 10 other...

During Philadelphia's annual homosexual "Outfest" rally, 11 Christians were herded into a police truck for refusing to obey a police order to relocate, and for using signs and megaphones to proclaim Scripture verses during the gay-pride celebration. The Christians are members of the evangelistic group Repent America. Repent America director Michael Marcavage, 25, is facing three felony charges and five misdemeanors. The felonies include conspiracy, inciting to riot, and ethnic intimidation-a charge filed under the state's hate-crimes law, which specifically mentions sexual orientation as one object of hate speech. Charges against seven of the Christians were dismissed. The others are...

Judge rules against Christians who preached to homosexuals 'Philly 5' lose round in federal court, prosecutors get away with calling defendants' words 'hateful' Posted: February 4, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 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...

'Philly 5' lose round in federal court, prosecutors get away with calling defendants' words 'hateful' Posted: February 4, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 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...

CANARIES IN A FREE-SPEECH MINESHAFTJan 31, 2005 - FreeMarketNews.comby Craig McCarthyOn October 10, 2004, an organization called PhillyPride held its annual Outfest event in Philadelphia. PhillyPride.org bills the event as “the largest coming out day celebration in the world.” Attendance of Outfest participants last year is estimated at between 25,000 and 32,000 people. Among them on October 10 were eleven people who came, in their words, “out of love” for the gay attendants, and with the goal of engaging in street corner preaching and evangelism. Shortly after arriving, the eleven were confronted by counter-demonstrators called The Pink Angels equipped with...

PHILADELPHIA - Four members of a conservative Christian group may resume picketing gay-themed events in Philadelphia after a judge lifted a restriction that kept them away. Common Pleas Court Judge Pamela Dembe called the restriction an unreasonable restraint on free speech. "We cannot restrict people's right to speak or to be near those who might not wish to hear them into the future," Dembe said Friday. Dembe overturned a ruling by Municipal Court Judge William A. Meehan against the demonstrators, who are affiliated with a local group called Repent America and who say their opposition to homosexuality is based on...

The four adult defendants who are part of the "Philadelphia 5," Christians who have been criminally charged for preaching at a homosexual event last fall, won a court battle today when a judge removed the bail requirement that they stay at least 100 feet away from any homosexual gathering. "The judge dissolved the bail restriction," the defendants' attorney Scott Shields told WND. Court of Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe ruled the bail requirement was an "unusual restriction on a person's right to speech." "We're gratified with the ruling," Shields said. "This judge recognized that my clients definitely do have the...