Prosecutor: Bible is 'fighting words'

[Riprorin]

Prosecutor: Bible
is 'fighting words'
4 who protested at Philly homosexual event ordered to stand trial, face 47 years in prison

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: December 16, 2004
5:00 p.m. Eastern

© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

Four Christian protesters who demonstrated at a Philadelphia homosexual event face a possible 47 years in prison if convicted of felony charges filed against them, while a prosecutor referred to Scripture verses they read as "fighting words."

The four are part of 11 demonstrators who went before the Philadelphia Municipal Court in a preliminary hearing this week. Judge William Austin Meehan Tuesday ordered four of the Christians to stand trial on three felony and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could a maximum of 47 years in prison.

As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, the group was "preaching God's Word" to a crowd of people attending the outdoor 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 11 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.

A video of the arrest, provided by the American Family Association's Center for Law & Policy can be seen here [Windows Media].

"First, symbols of Christianity are removed from the public square; now, Christians are facing 47 years in prison because they preached the gospel in the public square. Stalin would be proud," Brian Fahling, AFA Center for Law and Policy senior trial attorney, said in a statement.

A federal appeals court in Philadelphia denied emergency relief earlier this week despite video footage Fahling calls "undisputed evidence" that shows the Christians cooperating with police and being harassed by the Pink Angels.

Fahling's group says the Philadelphia city prosecutor in the case, Charles Ehrlich, attacked the defendants as "hateful" and referred to preaching the Bible as "fighting words," a characterization, the law group says, with which Judge Meehan agreed.

Charges were dropped against the remaining seven Christians, apparently because they were not seen quoting Scripture on the videotape.

The ethnic intimidation charge stems from Pennsylvania's "hate crimes" law ? to which the newest "victim" category of "sexual orientation" was recently added.


Link

This isn't Cuba or China, it's the US!

 

[BarneyFife]

I think those creeps should be locked up. What a bunch of wack jobs.

 

[Spencer278]

Fahling's group says the Philadelphia city prosecutor in the case, Charles Ehrlich, attacked the defendants as "hateful"

Sounds like the prosecutor is correct.

 

[SirStev0]

I love how the article specifically leaves out exactly what they did in the "confrontation" and exactly what the "instruments of crime" they had in possession...

Sounds to me like a bunch of bible humpers started swinging bats at the "mob of homosexuals"... You dont get all those charges for nothing... Especially roiting... this is just bad journalism trying to convince and reassure christians that they are the victims ...

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: SirStev0
I love how the article specifically leaves out exactly what they did in the "confrontation" and exactly what the "instruments of crime" they had in possession...

Sounds to me like a bunch of bible humpers started swinging bats at the "mob of homosexuals"... You dont get all those charges for nothing... Especially roiting... this is just bad journalism trying to convince and reassure christians that they are the victims ...

It's all captured on video. The link to the video is in the article.

Check it out.

 

[BarneyFife]

Link

A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker denied in a one-paragraph order the injunction requested last Friday by the American Family Association, a Mississipi-based conservative Christian "family values" group that is defending the 11.

AFA attorney Brian Fahling said he would file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to reverse Tucker and block the prosecutions.

Preliminary hearing for 10 of those arrested are set for Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court. A separate hearing for a juvenile arrested was set for today, but Fahling said it has been postponed.

Last Friday, Fahling argued that the arrests and prosecution of Repent America director Michael Marcavage and his fellow protesters violated their free speech rights.

Members of the group were arrested on charges including criminal conspiracy, rioting and ethnic intimidation after a loud, heated confrontation with a group of "Pink Angels" at the Outfest.

Lawyers for the city and District Attorney Lynne Abraham argued that Tucker should follow the U.S. Supreme Court's 1971 "Younger doctrine," which tells federal judges not to intervene in state court criminal cases unless there is compelling evidence that the prosecution was brought in bad faith or for purposes of harassment.

Fahling said a video of the Oct. 10 confrontation showed Marcavage speaking through a bullhorn while he and his supporters were being shouted down by irate gay activists.

City officials said the video did not show the start of the confrontation when Marcavage tried to interrupt a performance with his anti-gay preaching and then disobeyed a police order to move to the proselytizing to the perimeter of the Outfest to avoid the potential for violence.]A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.


These people disobeyed the law and wanted to start a riot.

 

[Riprorin]

You can watch the video here too.

Appeal to the Supreme Court last hope for Christians

Contact: Kathryn Hooks 662-844-5036
American Family Association
P.O. Drawer 2440
Tupelo, MS 38803
1-662-680-3886

For Immediate Release: 12/16/2004

. - ?First, symbols of Christianity are removed from the public square; now, Christians are facing 47 years in prison because they preached the gospel in the public square. Stalin would be proud,? ? Brian Fahling, AFA Center for Law and Policy Senior Trial Attorney.

Tupelo, MS - After a federal appeals court denied an emergency appeal to stop prosecution of 11 Christians on Tuesday, Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge William Austin Meehan ordered four of the Christians to stand trial on three felony (criminal conspiracy, ethnic intimidation, and riot) and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could face up to 47 years in prison.

The Christians were arrested on October 10 for praying, singing, and reading scripture during an annual ?gay pride? event known as ?Outfest? in Philadelphia.

Since the federal courts did not intervene to halt the state prosecution, the last route for the Christians would be an appeal to the Supreme Court says the Christians? attorney Brian Fahling, senior trial attorney for the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy.

?First, symbols of Christianity are removed from the public square, now, Christians are facing years in prison because they preached the gospel in the public square. Stalin would be proud,? Fahling said.

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.

Charges were dropped against the remaining seven apparently because they were not seen quoting scripture on the videotape.

The Philadelphia case represents another example of discrimination toward Christians,? said Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association national headquarters. ?The past month has poured forth cases of Christian persecution seen in the higher education institution, public school systems, and the judicial court system.?

See Video (Windows Media format)

Link

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Link

A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker denied in a one-paragraph order the injunction requested last Friday by the American Family Association, a Mississipi-based conservative Christian "family values" group that is defending the 11.

AFA attorney Brian Fahling said he would file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to reverse Tucker and block the prosecutions.

Preliminary hearing for 10 of those arrested are set for Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court. A separate hearing for a juvenile arrested was set for today, but Fahling said it has been postponed.

Last Friday, Fahling argued that the arrests and prosecution of Repent America director Michael Marcavage and his fellow protesters violated their free speech rights.

Members of the group were arrested on charges including criminal conspiracy, rioting and ethnic intimidation after a loud, heated confrontation with a group of "Pink Angels" at the Outfest.

Lawyers for the city and District Attorney Lynne Abraham argued that Tucker should follow the U.S. Supreme Court's 1971 "Younger doctrine," which tells federal judges not to intervene in state court criminal cases unless there is compelling evidence that the prosecution was brought in bad faith or for purposes of harassment.

Fahling said a video of the Oct. 10 confrontation showed Marcavage speaking through a bullhorn while he and his supporters were being shouted down by irate gay activists.

City officials said the video did not show the start of the confrontation when Marcavage tried to interrupt a performance with his anti-gay preaching and then disobeyed a police order to move to the proselytizing to the perimeter of the Outfest to avoid the potential for violence.]A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

These people disobeyed the law and wanted to start a riot.

Uh, huh.

So, you watched the video?

 

[BarneyFife]

Here are the great people at the rally that riproin hangs around with

Picture

 

[PizzaYummy]

They look like a bunch of pink nazis in the video.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Link

A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker denied in a one-paragraph order the injunction requested last Friday by the American Family Association, a Mississipi-based conservative Christian "family values" group that is defending the 11.

AFA attorney Brian Fahling said he would file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to reverse Tucker and block the prosecutions.

Preliminary hearing for 10 of those arrested are set for Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court. A separate hearing for a juvenile arrested was set for today, but Fahling said it has been postponed.

Last Friday, Fahling argued that the arrests and prosecution of Repent America director Michael Marcavage and his fellow protesters violated their free speech rights.

Members of the group were arrested on charges including criminal conspiracy, rioting and ethnic intimidation after a loud, heated confrontation with a group of "Pink Angels" at the Outfest.

Lawyers for the city and District Attorney Lynne Abraham argued that Tucker should follow the U.S. Supreme Court's 1971 "Younger doctrine," which tells federal judges not to intervene in state court criminal cases unless there is compelling evidence that the prosecution was brought in bad faith or for purposes of harassment.

Fahling said a video of the Oct. 10 confrontation showed Marcavage speaking through a bullhorn while he and his supporters were being shouted down by irate gay activists.

City officials said the video did not show the start of the confrontation when Marcavage tried to interrupt a performance with his anti-gay preaching and then disobeyed a police order to move to the proselytizing to the perimeter of the Outfest to avoid the potential for violence.]A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

These people disobeyed the law and wanted to start a riot.

Uh, huh.

So, you watched the video?

So what is the point of preaching hate at a peaceful event? Don't give me freedom of speech crap. These people were there to start trouble at an event that did not bother ANYONE. Why can't you and your extremist friends mind your own business? These people are just as bad as the radical muslims that you like to preach about.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Link

A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker denied in a one-paragraph order the injunction requested last Friday by the American Family Association, a Mississipi-based conservative Christian "family values" group that is defending the 11.

AFA attorney Brian Fahling said he would file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to reverse Tucker and block the prosecutions.

Preliminary hearing for 10 of those arrested are set for Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court. A separate hearing for a juvenile arrested was set for today, but Fahling said it has been postponed.

Last Friday, Fahling argued that the arrests and prosecution of Repent America director Michael Marcavage and his fellow protesters violated their free speech rights.

Members of the group were arrested on charges including criminal conspiracy, rioting and ethnic intimidation after a loud, heated confrontation with a group of "Pink Angels" at the Outfest.

Lawyers for the city and District Attorney Lynne Abraham argued that Tucker should follow the U.S. Supreme Court's 1971 "Younger doctrine," which tells federal judges not to intervene in state court criminal cases unless there is compelling evidence that the prosecution was brought in bad faith or for purposes of harassment.

Fahling said a video of the Oct. 10 confrontation showed Marcavage speaking through a bullhorn while he and his supporters were being shouted down by irate gay activists.

City officials said the video did not show the start of the confrontation when Marcavage tried to interrupt a performance with his anti-gay preaching and then disobeyed a police order to move to the proselytizing to the perimeter of the Outfest to avoid the potential for violence.]A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

These people disobeyed the law and wanted to start a riot.

Uh, huh.

So, you watched the video?

So what is the point of preaching hate at a peaceful event? Don't give me freedom of speech crap. These people were there to start trouble at an event that did not bother ANYONE. Why can't you and your extremist friends mind your own business? These people are just as bad as the radical muslims that you like to preach about.

Freedom of speech crap?????

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Link

A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker denied in a one-paragraph order the injunction requested last Friday by the American Family Association, a Mississipi-based conservative Christian "family values" group that is defending the 11.

AFA attorney Brian Fahling said he would file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to reverse Tucker and block the prosecutions.

Preliminary hearing for 10 of those arrested are set for Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court. A separate hearing for a juvenile arrested was set for today, but Fahling said it has been postponed.

Last Friday, Fahling argued that the arrests and prosecution of Repent America director Michael Marcavage and his fellow protesters violated their free speech rights.

Members of the group were arrested on charges including criminal conspiracy, rioting and ethnic intimidation after a loud, heated confrontation with a group of "Pink Angels" at the Outfest.

Lawyers for the city and District Attorney Lynne Abraham argued that Tucker should follow the U.S. Supreme Court's 1971 "Younger doctrine," which tells federal judges not to intervene in state court criminal cases unless there is compelling evidence that the prosecution was brought in bad faith or for purposes of harassment.

Fahling said a video of the Oct. 10 confrontation showed Marcavage speaking through a bullhorn while he and his supporters were being shouted down by irate gay activists.

City officials said the video did not show the start of the confrontation when Marcavage tried to interrupt a performance with his anti-gay preaching and then disobeyed a police order to move to the proselytizing to the perimeter of the Outfest to avoid the potential for violence.]A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

These people disobeyed the law and wanted to start a riot.

Uh, huh.

So, you watched the video?

I dont know.. the bold caught my eyes and i was able to read and understnad it... It seems the video does not show what they got arrested for...

 

[Harvey]

< sarcsm >

If they think their dogmatic Christianity is so great, maybe crucifixion would be more a appropriate sentence. :roll:

< /sarcasm >

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Riprorin
Freedom of speech crap?????

Attempting to incite a riot using words is not protected speech - making your ideas known is.

Trying to shout down or disrupt another even is also not protected, to the best of my knowledge; there's no specific rule that allows you to use your freedom of speech to directly curtail someone else's.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: Riprorin
Freedom of speech crap?????

Attempting to incite a riot using words is not protected speech - making your ideas known is.

Trying to shout down or disrupt another even is also not protected, to the best of my knowledge; there's no specific rule that allows you to use your freedom of speech to directly curtail someone else's.

Except that none of those things apparently happened. Here are more details:

11 Christians arrested at homosexual eventDemonstrators spend 21 hours in jail, charged with felonies

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: October 15, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

Eleven Christians who were demonstrating at a public homosexual-rights event in Philadelphia have been arrested and charged ? they say unjustly.

According to a statement from Life and Liberty Ministries, on Sunday the Christian protesters were "preaching God's Word" to the crowd of people attending the outdoor Philadelphia OutFest event and displaying banners with biblical messages.

Not long after the group began their activity, members of the Pink Angels, which the statement describes as "a militant mob of homosexuals," confronted the protesters and attempted to drown out their message with whistles, while hiding the signs with large sheets of pink Styrofoam.

"Even though the Christians obeyed all laws, city ordinances and lawful requests by the Philadelphia police officers on hand," said Life and Liberty Ministries, "they were promptly and without warning arrested and hauled off to jail, where they spent 21 hours before being released on Monday morning."

Eight charges were filed against the protesters, including three felonies and five misdemeanors. The charges were: criminal conspiracy, possession of instruments of crime, reckless endangerment of another person, ethnic intimidation, riot, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct, and obstructing highways.

The ?ethnic intimidation? charge, explains Robert Knight, writing for Concerned Women for America's Culture and Family Institute, was made possible by Pennsylvania?s Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism Act ? that state's ?hate crimes" law ? to which the newest "victim" category of "sexual orientation" was recently added.

Although some of the charges reportedly have been dropped since the 11 defendants were released, the Culture and Family Institute report quotes Philadelphia Police spokeswoman Officer Maria Ibrahim as saying the remaining charges are "criminal conspiracy," "failure to disperse," "disorderly conduct" and "obstructing a highway."

Responding to the riot charge, the group's statement said: "Despite the fact that our behavior was above reproach and we were attacked by a mob of whistle-blowing, obscenity-screaming God haters, the Christians, and only the Christians, were charged."

Said Dennis Green, director of Life and Liberty Ministries: "The Scriptures are filled with accounts of faithful followers of the Messiah who proclaimed the Gospel despite severe persecution. We are called upon and commanded to do no less. To shrink back would not be biblical Christianity."

The organization Repent America sponsored the protest.

"This is one of the most remarkable and unlawful actions by police that I have ever witnessed," said Michael Marcavage, director of Repent America. "Their blatant disregard of the law by allowing hecklers to impede our way, block our message and then arrest us, is inexcusable, especially by police officers who are specially trained to protect civil rights.

"Christians are now being labeled as 'haters' and any speech that homosexuals perceive to be intimidating, such as our Christian witness at OutFest, makes them a prime target for 'hate crimes legislation.'"

Continued Marcavage: "We are clearly 'not guilty' of these crimes, and with the help of our video footage, we shall be vindicated of these trumped-up charges."

The CFI account quotes Brian Fahling of the American Family Association's Center for Law and Policy, a public interest law firm which is representing the Christian defendants.

"We?re going to do whatever it takes to ensure that the Philadelphia Police Department and the city are held accountable for this," Fahling told CFI. "As far as we can tell, this was utterly uncalled for and has no legal justification."

Link

So what did you think of the video?

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Link

A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker denied in a one-paragraph order the injunction requested last Friday by the American Family Association, a Mississipi-based conservative Christian "family values" group that is defending the 11.

AFA attorney Brian Fahling said he would file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to reverse Tucker and block the prosecutions.

Preliminary hearing for 10 of those arrested are set for Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court. A separate hearing for a juvenile arrested was set for today, but Fahling said it has been postponed.

Last Friday, Fahling argued that the arrests and prosecution of Repent America director Michael Marcavage and his fellow protesters violated their free speech rights.

Members of the group were arrested on charges including criminal conspiracy, rioting and ethnic intimidation after a loud, heated confrontation with a group of "Pink Angels" at the Outfest.

Lawyers for the city and District Attorney Lynne Abraham argued that Tucker should follow the U.S. Supreme Court's 1971 "Younger doctrine," which tells federal judges not to intervene in state court criminal cases unless there is compelling evidence that the prosecution was brought in bad faith or for purposes of harassment.

Fahling said a video of the Oct. 10 confrontation showed Marcavage speaking through a bullhorn while he and his supporters were being shouted down by irate gay activists.

City officials said the video did not show the start of the confrontation when Marcavage tried to interrupt a performance with his anti-gay preaching and then disobeyed a police order to move to the proselytizing to the perimeter of the Outfest to avoid the potential for violence.]A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

These people disobeyed the law and wanted to start a riot.

Uh, huh.

So, you watched the video?

So what is the point of preaching hate at a peaceful event? Don't give me freedom of speech crap. These people were there to start trouble at an event that did not bother ANYONE. Why can't you and your extremist friends mind your own business? These people are just as bad as the radical muslims that you like to preach about.

Freedom of speech crap?????

Yeah. You know like threatening the president, screaming fire in a movie theater or inciting a riot with your mouth.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Link

A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker denied in a one-paragraph order the injunction requested last Friday by the American Family Association, a Mississipi-based conservative Christian "family values" group that is defending the 11.

AFA attorney Brian Fahling said he would file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to reverse Tucker and block the prosecutions.

Preliminary hearing for 10 of those arrested are set for Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court. A separate hearing for a juvenile arrested was set for today, but Fahling said it has been postponed.

Last Friday, Fahling argued that the arrests and prosecution of Repent America director Michael Marcavage and his fellow protesters violated their free speech rights.

Members of the group were arrested on charges including criminal conspiracy, rioting and ethnic intimidation after a loud, heated confrontation with a group of "Pink Angels" at the Outfest.

Lawyers for the city and District Attorney Lynne Abraham argued that Tucker should follow the U.S. Supreme Court's 1971 "Younger doctrine," which tells federal judges not to intervene in state court criminal cases unless there is compelling evidence that the prosecution was brought in bad faith or for purposes of harassment.

Fahling said a video of the Oct. 10 confrontation showed Marcavage speaking through a bullhorn while he and his supporters were being shouted down by irate gay activists.

City officials said the video did not show the start of the confrontation when Marcavage tried to interrupt a performance with his anti-gay preaching and then disobeyed a police order to move to the proselytizing to the perimeter of the Outfest to avoid the potential for violence.]A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

These people disobeyed the law and wanted to start a riot.

Uh, huh.

So, you watched the video?

So what is the point of preaching hate at a peaceful event? Don't give me freedom of speech crap. These people were there to start trouble at an event that did not bother ANYONE. Why can't you and your extremist friends mind your own business? These people are just as bad as the radical muslims that you like to preach about.

Freedom of speech crap?????

Yeah. You know like threatening the president, screaming fire in a movie theater or inciting a riot with your mouth.

And these people did any of those things?

 

[Harvey]

Rip -- Thanks for yet another POS quote from the Aluminum Foil Beany Daily. :roll:

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Link

A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker denied in a one-paragraph order the injunction requested last Friday by the American Family Association, a Mississipi-based conservative Christian "family values" group that is defending the 11.

AFA attorney Brian Fahling said he would file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to reverse Tucker and block the prosecutions.

Preliminary hearing for 10 of those arrested are set for Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court. A separate hearing for a juvenile arrested was set for today, but Fahling said it has been postponed.

Last Friday, Fahling argued that the arrests and prosecution of Repent America director Michael Marcavage and his fellow protesters violated their free speech rights.

Members of the group were arrested on charges including criminal conspiracy, rioting and ethnic intimidation after a loud, heated confrontation with a group of "Pink Angels" at the Outfest.

Lawyers for the city and District Attorney Lynne Abraham argued that Tucker should follow the U.S. Supreme Court's 1971 "Younger doctrine," which tells federal judges not to intervene in state court criminal cases unless there is compelling evidence that the prosecution was brought in bad faith or for purposes of harassment.

Fahling said a video of the Oct. 10 confrontation showed Marcavage speaking through a bullhorn while he and his supporters were being shouted down by irate gay activists.

City officials said the video did not show the start of the confrontation when Marcavage tried to interrupt a performance with his anti-gay preaching and then disobeyed a police order to move to the proselytizing to the perimeter of the Outfest to avoid the potential for violence.]A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

These people disobeyed the law and wanted to start a riot.

Uh, huh.

So, you watched the video?

So what is the point of preaching hate at a peaceful event? Don't give me freedom of speech crap. These people were there to start trouble at an event that did not bother ANYONE. Why can't you and your extremist friends mind your own business? These people are just as bad as the radical muslims that you like to preach about.

Freedom of speech crap?????

Yeah. You know like threatening the president, screaming fire in a movie theater or inciting a riot with your mouth.

And these people did any of those things?

I belive that is what they are charged with and 12 juries will get to decided.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: Harvey
Rip -- Thanks for yet another POS quote from the Aluminum Foil Beany Daily. :roll:

Harvey, I figured you to be a defender of fairness and free speech. Guess I was wrong.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Link

A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker denied in a one-paragraph order the injunction requested last Friday by the American Family Association, a Mississipi-based conservative Christian "family values" group that is defending the 11.

AFA attorney Brian Fahling said he would file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to reverse Tucker and block the prosecutions.

Preliminary hearing for 10 of those arrested are set for Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court. A separate hearing for a juvenile arrested was set for today, but Fahling said it has been postponed.

Last Friday, Fahling argued that the arrests and prosecution of Repent America director Michael Marcavage and his fellow protesters violated their free speech rights.

Members of the group were arrested on charges including criminal conspiracy, rioting and ethnic intimidation after a loud, heated confrontation with a group of "Pink Angels" at the Outfest.

Lawyers for the city and District Attorney Lynne Abraham argued that Tucker should follow the U.S. Supreme Court's 1971 "Younger doctrine," which tells federal judges not to intervene in state court criminal cases unless there is compelling evidence that the prosecution was brought in bad faith or for purposes of harassment.

Fahling said a video of the Oct. 10 confrontation showed Marcavage speaking through a bullhorn while he and his supporters were being shouted down by irate gay activists.

City officials said the video did not show the start of the confrontation when Marcavage tried to interrupt a performance with his anti-gay preaching and then disobeyed a police order to move to the proselytizing to the perimeter of the Outfest to avoid the potential for violence.]A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

These people disobeyed the law and wanted to start a riot.

Uh, huh.

So, you watched the video?

So what is the point of preaching hate at a peaceful event? Don't give me freedom of speech crap. These people were there to start trouble at an event that did not bother ANYONE. Why can't you and your extremist friends mind your own business? These people are just as bad as the radical muslims that you like to preach about.

Freedom of speech crap?????

Yeah. You know like threatening the president, screaming fire in a movie theater or inciting a riot with your mouth.

And these people did any of those things?

Are you dense? What if I went to a Martin Luther King parade with a confederate flag yelling "Blacks back to Africa"? Gay people have feelings too.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Link

A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker denied in a one-paragraph order the injunction requested last Friday by the American Family Association, a Mississipi-based conservative Christian "family values" group that is defending the 11.

AFA attorney Brian Fahling said he would file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to reverse Tucker and block the prosecutions.

Preliminary hearing for 10 of those arrested are set for Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court. A separate hearing for a juvenile arrested was set for today, but Fahling said it has been postponed.

Last Friday, Fahling argued that the arrests and prosecution of Repent America director Michael Marcavage and his fellow protesters violated their free speech rights.

Members of the group were arrested on charges including criminal conspiracy, rioting and ethnic intimidation after a loud, heated confrontation with a group of "Pink Angels" at the Outfest.

Lawyers for the city and District Attorney Lynne Abraham argued that Tucker should follow the U.S. Supreme Court's 1971 "Younger doctrine," which tells federal judges not to intervene in state court criminal cases unless there is compelling evidence that the prosecution was brought in bad faith or for purposes of harassment.

Fahling said a video of the Oct. 10 confrontation showed Marcavage speaking through a bullhorn while he and his supporters were being shouted down by irate gay activists.

City officials said the video did not show the start of the confrontation when Marcavage tried to interrupt a performance with his anti-gay preaching and then disobeyed a police order to move to the proselytizing to the perimeter of the Outfest to avoid the potential for violence.]A federal judge today refused to block the local prosecution of 11 Christian evangelists arrested Oct. 10 in a confrontation at the "Outfest" gay pride block party in Center City.

These people disobeyed the law and wanted to start a riot.

Uh, huh.

So, you watched the video?

So what is the point of preaching hate at a peaceful event? Don't give me freedom of speech crap. These people were there to start trouble at an event that did not bother ANYONE. Why can't you and your extremist friends mind your own business? These people are just as bad as the radical muslims that you like to preach about.

Freedom of speech crap?????

Yeah. You know like threatening the president, screaming fire in a movie theater or inciting a riot with your mouth.

And these people did any of those things?

Are you dense? What if I went to a Martin Luther King parade with a confederate flag yelling "Blacks back to Africa"? Gay people have feelings too.

And if you hurt a gay person's feelings by using words he doesn't like you should be thrown in jail and charged with a battery of felonies?

 

[BarneyFife]

Do you understand the whole "inciting a riot" and the part where its illegal?

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Do you understand the whole "inciting a riot" and the part where its illegal?

You still haven't watched the video, have you?