Name the prosecutor who filed the charges.
Posted on 01/06/2005 11:55:20 PM PST by paudio
"Hate Crime" charges against four Christian men, facing a total of 47 years in prison, were dropped after the judge viewed the tape of the incident.
Four Christian men were charged with “hate crime” felony when in fact they were peacefully protesting a homosexual street event on October 10, 2004 in Philadelphia. Concerned Women for America (CWA) urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to intervene. The four adult defendants, who face a total of 47 years in prison if convicted of the three felonies and five misdemeanors, pled not guilty.
“The District Attorney’s office went berserk, saddling them with criminal charges including trying to incite a riot, even though the protesters were peaceful,” said Robert Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute. “Their crime was to cite Bible verses, which a prosecutor called ‘hateful,’ and to urge homosexuals, like other sinners, to repent. It’s frightening to see religious persecution on American soil, especially in the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence. The Justice Department needs to step in and investigate this civil rights violation by the city of Philadelphia.”
It all began when 11 Christians from Repent America began preaching and singing at Outfest, a homosexual street event. The Christians, led by Repent America founder Michael Marcavage, were surrounded by the Pink Angels, a group of homosexuals who held up Styrofoam signs, blocking the group. Police arrested only the Christians.
After viewing a videotape of the incident at the December 14 hearing, Municipal Court Judge William Austin Meehan dropped charges against six other defendants, including a 72-year-old grandmother. A juvenile defendant awaits separate court action.
“The felony charges in particular are outrageous. We’re talking about expressing an opinion in a public area,” Knight said.
Name the prosecutor who filed the charges.
Thank God that's over. Good Judge!
Having the charges dropped is not the same as being acquitted.
Be that as it may, I hope these people can muster the money to bring false arrest and malicious prosecution charges, and also go after those gay federal doj attourneys that masterminded the entire operation.
Why were local police taking direction from doj attorneys anyway?
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Ping!
GOOD NEWS
"Hate Crime" charges against four Christian men, facing a total of 47 years in prison, were dropped after the judge viewed the tape of the incident.
Its about time!
If you want on/off the list let me know.
Amen
Somebody had to have filed a fraudulent police report to get these folks taken away like this. The group should own that person's grandchildren's homes before this is all over.
Thanks for the ping. The article did not say which judge it was that threw the case out?
I don't the person's name but I'm from PA & heard that there were gay lawyers marching that advised the city on how what charges to file. From that, it sounded like the city was involved? Anyway, thank goodness Senator Specter didn't have a say over the appointment of this judge!
Another story posted here on FR was that several GAY DOJ attourneys (probably Clintonistas) were attending the event, and they wipped out their credentials and started directing the police to arrest people.
These are the first that have to be hung out to dry, then the district attorney.
Then the local cops who started taking orders from federal agents.
Four peacefully protest great wrong, and have their Constitutional right to free speech stripped away from them with a felony "hate crime' charge. A dark hour, indeed.
If the DOJ folks told lies, then their jobs should be forfeit. As Justice Department employees, they should be prosecuted for civil rights violations, since there's no excuse for them violating the laws they know intimately.
The D.A. should have known better. I agree. As for the police, if a person whipped out a DOJ ID, I'd probably take their word for it.
The police are not at fault, if a DOJ person lies their a--es off. It's unfortunate, but I'm not sure I could buy off on their culpability in this.
I honestly believe this sort of thing will not hold in America, though it may in other countries.
Same here.
this is really good news
Yea,,,,, France
Yet, unless those in the DA's office who did go bezerk here are relieved of their position it doesn't mean much except personally to those who were railraoded but now are off the hook.
I know if they need money or me to do pro-bono work I would be willing.
Thank goodness someone had taped the incident!
Thank God - and thank God that this is still America!
I saw this on O'Reilly the other night. I cannot help but think the exposure of this travesty on TV led , in part, to the judge's decision. In general, I believe that the airing of such fascist tactics is responsible for many of the victories we traditionalist are now experiencing.
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And if those DOJ attorneys are radical homosexuals who were attending that 'outfest,' as was reported yesterday, then imo, they need to be charged with whatever is appropriate to their crime and fired from the DOJ.
A 'hate crime' was committed against the Christians, imo.
To name him is to 'out' him.
They got what they wanted, anyway. They got the Christians off the street so they could promote perversion.
By their fruits shall ye know them...
Until the LEFTIST start banning the taping of their antics.
LOL! While I agree with the general sentiment..There would have to be a turkey baster or something in the family tree somewhere...
I agree. Conspiracy to deprive someone of their civil Rights has a nice felonious ring to it.
Amen!!!
We could arrange that. heh heh
Right now is the time for all decent foks in Philly to go on the offensive against the purveyors of perversion. They've got a potential weapon now and they need to use it unmercifully.
This is a good opportunity to have a federal civil rights lawsuit filed for any number of causes.
Let's face it, that's exactly what these people were on their way to becomming. Nothing empowers Christians more with a sense of righteousness than to persecute them for following the teachings of Christ. Nothing like throwing a person in jail for following a man who taught of salvation and profound love. Giving them martyrs is like throwing gasoline on a fire.
Can Philly FReepers be 'pinged' into action?
The police are liable. It is no defense to follow the unlawful directions of someone else, no matter who is giving them. the law is so clear that the cops had an unmistakable duty to tell the DoJ activists to stick it up their a$$. ,P> The 'following orders defense' didn't work at Nuremburg and it won't work here. That they followed directions of a DoJ lawyer may be a mitigating factor in the amount of their liability, they are still liable.
Don't be too sure. Look at Canada and Australia. Both now say preaching against homosexuality is "hate speech". While I am very happy these charges were dropped, the fact they could be brought in the first place and go as far as it did is chilling.
I've searched the news and there's nothing else out there about it yet.
definition - Berserk \Ber"serk\, Berserker \Ber"serk*er\, n. [Icel. berserkr.] (Scand. Myth.) Legendary Viking heroes, who worked themselves up to a fever pitch and went into battle naked and screaming.
*snicker*
poing
Thankfully the charges were dropped. That these men were arrested and charged in the first place is a very scary thing.
This is confusing IMO, we knew that charges had already been dropped against some of them. Anyone have any info which judge this is?
Yes, expose the fraud, and thank God there is at least one judge in Philly with common sense.
Nothing about it on Philadelphia DA's site... http://www.phila.gov/districtattorney/case/prelease.asp?id=125
1/7/2005
Daily Case Updates
New case listings and updates
FRIDAY JANUARY 7, 2005
1.CYNTHIA POWELL AND JOSEPH BEST----SENTENCING 9:30AM--CJC1001---BEST CONVICTED 10-15-04 OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND WEAPONS OFFENSES, AND POWELL CONVICTED OF WEAPONS OFFENSES FOR THE 2-23-03 WEST PHILADELPHIA SHOOTING, WHICH WAS SPARKED BY A SNOWBALL FIGHT, OF 10-YEAR-OLD EBONY SMITH.
ADA DEBORAH NIXON 686-8988
THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2005
NO CASES ARE LISTED FOR COURT
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 5, 2005
NO CASES ARE LISTED FOR COURT
TUESDAY JANUARY 4, 2005
NO CASES ARE LISTED FOR COURT
MONDAY JANUARY 3, 2005
1. SEAN BROWN------JURY SELECTION---CJC1008--9am---CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF MURDER, TWO COUNTS OF RAPE AND RELATED OFFENSES FOR THE 9-3-03 DEATHS OF PATRICIA HENRY, 51, HER 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, PATRICIA STALLWORTH, AND JAMES COFER, 52, IN THEIR CRESCENTVILLE HOME.
ADA JOANNE PESCATORE 686-8045
2. GREGORY GOLDEN---PRELIMINARY HEARING---1801 VINE ST., 'B' COURT---9AM---CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS OF BURGLARY, INDECENT EXPOSURE, OPEN LEWDNESS AND RELATED OFFENSES FOR A SERIES OF OCTOBER, 2004 BREAK-INS AND ASSAULTS ON WOMEN AND GIRLS INSIDE THE VICTIMS' HOMES IN KENSINGTON.
ADA TBA
3. RONALD WILLIAMS---JURY SELECTION---CJC 9AM---1107---CHARGED WITH MURDER AND RELATED OFFENSES FOR THE MARCH 12, 2002 MURDER OF SOLOMON SACKS INSIDE HIS OVERBROOK STORE, 'BEST DEAL DISCOUNT FOOTWEAR AND CLOTHING' ON THE 6500-BLOCK OF LANSDOWNE AVE. IN OVERBROOK.
ADA JOHN DOYLE 686-8067
FRIDAY DECEMBER 31, 2004
NO CASES ARE LISTED FOR COURT
I'm not too sure about this report. Need more info.
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