Posted on 12/14/2004 9:29:21 AM PST by Map Kernow
A federal appeals court denied an emergency appeal to stop prosecution of 11 Philadelphia-area Christians who allege the District Attorney's office retaliated against them for exercising their constitutional rights at a homosexual event in which they were arrested and later charged with felonies.
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 eleven Christians were arrested and spent a night in jail.
Eight charges were filed, 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.
Early last week, the American Family Association's Center for Law & Policy filed papers in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania seeking a temporary restraining order that would prevent the city of Philadelphia from prosecuting the case.
Judge Petrese Tucker denied the Philadelphia 11's request, and the CLP immediately appealed the decision to the Third Circuit, which upheld it.
"This turn of events is beyond belief," said Brian Fahling, senior trial attorney for the CLP.
At the hearing, the CLP presented what it called "undisputed" video evidence that captured the "Outfest" events on tape, showing the Philadelphia 11 cooperated with police and were continually harassed by the Pink Angels.
None of the Pink Angels was cited or arrested.
"Despite the undisputed evidence placed before the court, our action for emergency relief was denied not once, but twice," Fahling added. "Many had thought an outcome like this ended at Selma.
"It seems that the Philadelphia 11 have become second-class citizens in the City of Brotherly Love," he said.
A preliminary hearing takes place today at 9 a.m. in Philadelphia.
The ethnic intimidation charge stems from Pennsylvania's "hate crimes" law – to which the newest "victim" category of "sexual orientation" was recently added. The protesters say a Philadelphia police officer told them that because they were on a public sidewalk they were permitted to move freely through the event. A few minutes later, however, they were arrested and removed.
The Philadelphia 11 face a maximum penalty of 47 years each in jail.
Already did, and Gettyburg too!! They proclaim gay friendly city.
Some people are more equal than others...
Don't worry. The ACLU will immediately announce their support, legally and financially, for the free speech rights of these Christians </sarcasm>.
It's gonna take more than a biased article by WorldNetDaily to convince me that these "protestors" are innocent. I've known too many "Christian" protestors.
Ping
...and you sound completely unbiased, in that statement. What kind of Lawyer do you happen to be, Jewish, or Moslem?
Evangelical Christian.
Have you now? Correct me if I'm wrong, but you've never met these 11 people, have you? You weren't at the event, were you? You haven't seen the tape of the event, have you? You haven't reviewed the charges or the evidence, have you?
Exactly what do you know of "Christian" protestors, these or others? Why don't you "share" with us?
bump
...and when Democrats wanted to attend private GOP rallies before the election, it was a case of "we are being oppressed for our views, you should be forced to let us in!" Same country, two sets of rules.
See Third Circuit Refuses to Come to the Aid of Philadelphia Christians from the AFA. It includes 7 minutes of the video.
:-(
IT doesnt matter ,he thinks all CHRISTIANS that protest are wrong from the start,he just sayed so.
No. And neither was WorldNetDaily. They basically regurgitaded the defendant's press release uncritically. That's my complaint. And that's why its going to take more than a WND article to convince me the "protesters" are innocent.
Exactly what do you know of "Christian" protestors, these or others? Why don't you "share" with us?
Alright.
1.) Some pro-life protestors who sprayed acid on some abortion workers in Rochester about 10 yrs. ago. I knew one of the workers in the clinic through the volunteer ambulance group I was involved in at the time.
2.) Street preachers who railed at students at my undergrad school during the "gay week."
No, I did not.
Please tell us all where he sayed [sic] any such thing.
Watch the video, and make your own conclusions.
Just out of curiosity, was on of the instruments of crime a bible?
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