www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1250576/posts?page=1

PHILADELPHIA -- On Sunday, October 10, 2004, eleven Christians with the Philadelphia-based Repent America were arrested, jailed, and charged under hate crimes legislation during an evangelistic outreach at the annual "OutFest" homosexual pride event held in the public streets of Philadelphia.

The six men and five women representing Repent America approached the event and were immediately confronted with unlawful opposition by a group of homosexuals. This group, the “Pink Angels”, was formed by homosexual attorney Chuck Volz, a senior adviser to Philly Pride Presents, organizers of the annual OutFest event which receives $22,500 yearly from the City of Philadelphia.

The “Pink Angels” blocked access to Repent America by forming a human chain, refusing to allow the Christians to walk down the public sidewalk. Police intervened shortly thereafter, escorting Repent America through the human blockade.

While on the public sidewalk and street inside the event, Repent America began to open-air preach with the use of Scripture banners, and to distribute Gospel literature, as members of the "Pink Angels" blew loud whistles and carried large signs alongside the Christians to block their message and their access to the event attendees, while others screamed obscenities. The police refused to take action as the Christians were continuously followed, obstructed, and harassed.

Repent America obeyed all laws, and even the unlawful requests, to move by the Philadelphia Civil Affairs police officers in an effort of cooperation. Regardless of Repent America’s compliance, Chief James Tiano, head of the Civil Affairs Unit, without warning, ordered the arrests of the Christians and hauled them off to jail, where they spent 21 hours, before being released the following day. Ten Christians were individually charged with three felonies and five misdemeanors, while a teenager with the group was charged with a misdemeanor.

“This is one of the most remarkable and unlawful actions by police that I have ever witnessed. 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,” stated Michael Marcavage, director of Repent America. “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’,” Marcavage continued.

The three felonies and five misdemeanors include: Criminal Conspiracy (Felony), Possession of Instruments of Crime (Misdemeanor), Reckless Endangerment of Another Person (Misdemeanor), Ethnic Intimidation (Felony), Riot (Felony), Failure to Disperse (Misdemeanor), Disorderly Conduct (Misdemeanor), and Obstructing Highways (Misdemeanor). “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,” Marcavage concluded.

The Christians are scheduled to be arraigned on October 18, 2004 at 8:00AM in the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center.

Possession of Instruments of Crime (Misdemeanor)

When did passing out Christian information become a crime.

"Ze Fuhrer would vike a vord with you."

This sort of thing happening in Filthadelphia doesn't surprise  me one bit.



I've worked out of the Port of Philly for about 15 years and I hear more than you can shake a stick at stories like: "My neighbor was beatin' up on his wife, so I called the cops and they came and arrested ME!"


FWIW, If I have to call the police here, I make DAMN SURE I'm NOT in the area when they arrive!



Edited to add: The PROPER way to call the fuzz here is this: Call the cops. Call for a Pizza. When the pizza arrives, pay for it, take it and leave. You still have plenty of time to disappear.

wow complete and total fucking bullshit.

WTF

Ethnic Intimidation (Felony)

IMO if someone is intimidated, but no real crime was comitted its entirely thier own fault they are such pussies.

Ethnic Intimidation!!??

So now homosexuality is a race?

I want to see an unbiased source for this.

When the Lord returns, He's going to be very, VERY upset with some people.....

"You should leave that fucked up state and move to a free one..."

I was home the whole time.....I got witnesses...I can prove it!



Sgtar15

More sources mentioning this incident:

www.cwfa.org/articles/6522/CFI/family/

worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40929

The time grows short.

Quoted: The time grows short.

Isn't one of the signs of the "end of days", when wrong is right and right is wrong?

It's the "Pink Angels Versus The Christians" all through the month of Rocktober on PayPerView!

The Christians should've arrested the cops.

Possession of Instruments of Crime (Misdemeanor)

aka, the Bible.




(I'm guessing)
-LS

I've got to spend more time in the Word...........

Quoted: Isn't one of the signs of the "end of days", when wrong is right and right is wrong?

"3knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

2nd Peter

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. "

2nd Timothy 3

"20Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
       Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
       Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

Isaiah 5

Pretty much....

The christian s "fucked" with the Gays so the gays fucked with'em right back? Wheres the problem? Imagine if a bunch Of KKKers went to a black Power rally handing out "all niggers go to hell pamphlets?" And then refused to disperse at the request of Law enforcement to prevent a riot?? If this truly is the "end of days" then they should actually "speed it up" so Jesus can get here faster, right? They should go into a closet (no pun intended) and pray there for the second coming. Don't worry these Gays already know who Jesus is and already know they are going to hell so there's no need to get in their face.
VS. ???????????

Quoted: Possession of Instruments of Crime (Misdemeanor) aka, the Bible. (I'm guessing) -LS

Pretty much. If they raided my house, they could put me away for a lifetime based on just my Bibles, and books based on the Bible.

I guess because I believe in the love and Righteousness of Christ, that I am now a hate criminal.

So be it.



" 10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
          For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


11"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. "

Matthew 5

Quoted: The christian s "fucked" with the Gays so the gays fucked with'em right back? Wheres the problem? Imagine if a bunch Of KKKers went to a black Power rally handing out "all niggers go to hell pamphlets?" And then refused to disperse at the request of Law enforcement to prevent a riot?? If this truly is the "end of days" then they should actually "speed it up" so Jesus can get here faster, right? They should go into a closet (no pun intended) and pray there for the second coming. Don't worry these Gays already know who Jesus is and already know they are going to hell so there's no need to get in their face. VS. ???????????

um........in the interest of saving time, I'll just point out one thing there......Nobody goes to Hell for being Gay.

<---doesn't like homosexuality, but thinks facts should be kept straight whenever possible.....

Quoted: The christian s "fucked" with the Gays so the gays fucked with'em right back? Wheres the problem? Imagine if a bunch Of KKKers went to a black Power rally handing out "all niggers go to hell pamphlets?" And then refused to disperse at the request of Law enforcement to prevent a riot?? If this truly is the "end of days" then they should actually "speed it up" so Jesus can get here faster, right? They should go into a closet (no pun intended) and pray there for the second coming. Don't worry these Gays already know who Jesus is and already know they are going to hell so there's no need to get in their face. VS. ???????????

The Christians PEACEABLY ASSEMBLED and spoke a viewpoint protected by the Constitution.

What part of religious freedom don't you get?

Christians HAVE A RIGHT to proclaim the Gospel. People are free to listen or to reject it. But NOT to shut them up and NOT to arrest them for nothing more than preaching what the Bible actually says:

"9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[1] nor sodomites, 10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."

1st Corinthians 6

Homosexuality is a sin, and as sin God hates it. But He loves the one caught in the sin so much that he died to free them from the sin. As followers of Christ, we are required to do the same. I will not sit on the truth because it might offend somebody. God judges any sin that is not repented of. Yours, mine, whoever's, He will judge us for it.

So seek the mercy of God and you won't have to meet Him as judge. Forsake the sin and He will forgive.

" 21"But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 23Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?    
24"But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die."

Ezekiel 18

BTW -- You want proof that God is real? I read your post MONTHS ago, months before it was ever written. As soon as I saw the first word of your post I knew it word for word. God reveals things to those who seek Him from time to time. For some reason, He chose to reveal your post to me.

God is real. He knows you. He knows your every thought. Seek Him and you will obtain mercy.

Quoted: um........in the interest of saving time, I'll just point out one thing there......Nobody goes to Hell for being Gay. <---doesn't like homosexuality, but thinks facts should be kept straight whenever possible.....

Uhh....What exactly do you mean by that? I am hoping you have some theological explanation for that position that escapes me, because the Bible I read says that "neither idolators, or drunkards, or homosexual offenders, or adulterers" etc will inheret the Kingdom of Heaven.

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."


This country is in dire need of an enema.

Quoted: Quoted: um........in the interest of saving time, I'll just point out one thing there......Nobody goes to Hell for being Gay. <---doesn't like homosexuality, but thinks facts should be kept straight whenever possible..... Uhh....What exactly do you mean by that? I am hoping you have some theological explanation for that position that escapes me, because the Bible I read says that "neither idolators, or drunkards, or homosexual offenders, or adulterers" etc will inheret the Kingdom of Heaven.

What I exactly mean by that is that sin is sin.........no matter what anyone may have done, if they are saved, they're saved. There will be plenty of 'reformed' homosexuals in Heaven.

Do we really have to go into this?

Do *YOU* believe that homosexuals cannot get into heaven?

What about idolators, drunkards,and adulterers?

You ever look at a woman with adultery in your heart? I have.

I believe I have been forgiven for it.

I believe that same Grace will be extended to gays who accept Jesus as their savior.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: um........in the interest of saving time, I'll just point out one thing there......Nobody goes to Hell for being Gay. <---doesn't like homosexuality, but thinks facts should be kept straight whenever possible..... Uhh....What exactly do you mean by that? I am hoping you have some theological explanation for that position that escapes me, because the Bible I read says that "neither idolators, or drunkards, or homosexual offenders, or adulterers" etc will inheret the Kingdom of Heaven. What I exactly mean by that is that sin is sin.........no matter what anyone may have done, if they are saved, they're saved. There will be plenty of 'reformed' homosexuals in Heaven. Do we really have to go into this? Do *YOU* believe that homosexuals cannot get into heaven? What about idolators, drunkards,and adulterers? You ever look at a woman with adultery in your heart? I have. I believe I have been forgiven for it. I believe that same Grace will be extended to gays who accept Jesus as their savior.

So true.

Americans tend to think there are "levels" of sin.

"Sin" is "sin" and ALL OF IT seperates you from God. A Lie is just as bad as molesting a little girl.

The great thing is that ALL OF IT is forgiven all you have to do is REPENT and ask for forgigeness.

Quoted: What I exactly mean by that is that sin is sin.........no matter what anyone may have done, if they are saved, they're saved. There will be plenty of 'reformed' homosexuals in Heaven.

Well of course there will. I mentioned in another thread the people delivered from homosexuality by Christ. He does deliver

Do we really have to go into this? Do *YOU* believe that homosexuals cannot get into heaven?

No, homosexuals CANNOT get into heaven. SAVED people get into heaven. Salvation is open to any man regardless of the sin he has comitted. But he must FORSAKE that sin and live as Christ lived to enter heaven. Jesus saves homosexuals the same as He does anyone else, but we must confess and forsake sin to truly be forgiven.

What about idolators, drunkards,and adulterers?

If they repent and forsake, they are saved. If they do not, then they are doomed.

You ever look at a woman with adultery in your heart? I have. I believe I have been forgiven for it. I believe that same Grace will be extended to gays who accept Jesus as their savior.

 

This is what I was hoping you meant. Those that confess sin to Christ, accept Him as Lord, and then conform themselves with the charachter of Christ are genuine Christian believers, saved by God's grace.

Anyone can become saved, for it is not His will that any should perish, but that all should come unto repentence. Whatever the sin, there is forgiveness in the savior.

Homosexuality is no better or no worse a sin than any other. The homosexual is not somehow less able to be saved by Christ than any other.

Given the situation in the religious world these days when someone uses the phrase that you used it can mean a great many things. That's why I wanted to clarify.

Quoted: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." This country is in dire need of an enema.

2 Chron 7:13-15
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
NIV

Quoted: So true. Americans tend to think there are "levels" of sin. "Sin" is "sin" and ALL OF IT seperates you from God. A Lie is just as bad as molesting a little girl. The great thing is that ALL OF IT is forgiven all you have to do is REPENT and ask for forgigeness.

I agree. A lot of people hold this idea despite all the Bible's teachings. There are indeed some offenses that are "worse" than others. Murder is less acceptable to God than stealing, as God imposed a death penalty for murder and not for theft.

But ALL sin seperates man from God. Whether it is murder, or whether it is unforgiveness, all of it is unacceptable in God's sight. That's how Holy He is.

The truth of the matter is that a person who simply rejects Christ is heading to the same hell that the guy in Iraq cutting off people's heads is going to. That was one heck of a sobering revelation from God when I finally got it through my thick skull, and it changed my life.

We want degrees of sin in regards to our eternal destinies because everybody has their pet sins that they don't want to give up.

Sin is like cancer. There is such a thing as having a little cancer, and there is such a thing as being consumed by cancer. Either way, you STILL have cancer. Likewise it is possible to be a relatively moral person on earth and still wind up in hell because you never submitted to Christ.

Quoted: Given the situation in the religious world these days when someone uses the phrase that you used it can mean a great many things. That's why I wanted to clarify.

Understood!

In his day- Noah had to put up with the same problems.

Quoted: Quoted: um........in the interest of saving time, I'll just point out one thing there......Nobody goes to Hell for being Gay. <---doesn't like homosexuality, but thinks facts should be kept straight whenever possible..... Uhh....What exactly do you mean by that? I am hoping you have some theological explanation for that position that escapes me, because the Bible I read says that "neither idolators, or drunkards, or homosexual offenders, or adulterers" etc will inheret the Kingdom of Heaven.

You go to hell for rejecting Christ's gift of salvation.

Not for any specific reason that you reject it...

Geez louise! One little paragraph and I start a shit storm! Ok now the response:

The Christians PEACEABLY ASSEMBLED and spoke a viewpoint protected by the Constitution. What part of religious freedom don't you get?

I'm not even going to say "you can't yell Fire in a theatre" so we do have limits on our freedom. No I'm not even going to type it! But guess what ? The police do have a right to prevent lawlessness in the streets. Or Prevent a riot. If the police feel what you are doing could lead to a riot or 'trouble' they have a right to ask you to leave. If you do not comply that is 'Disorderly conduct' and you can be detained. (JBT's back me up on this!) Call it a preemptive Strike .

BTW -- You want proof that God is real? I read your post MONTHS ago, months before it was ever written. As soon as I saw the first word of your post I knew it word for word. God reveals things to those who seek Him from time to time. For some reason, He chose to reveal your post to me.

 OK, I belive you...................oh I almost forgot could you give the winner of the third race at Aquduct raceway on thursday? I got a hunch but would feel better if I knew the man upstairs was behind me.        
Seriously, If you pray, and you hear a real voice answering back......................There are people out there who care and are willing to help you. Modern medicine can do wonders nowadays. The local Social services can direct you to a good hospital, However if the voice tells you to kill or you feel 'persecuted' or you might harm yourself the best thing to do is dial 911. Don't worry they'll send an ambulance, you won't get pepper sprayed or clubbed or anything.

The left in this country only supports the first amendment rights of those who agree with them. Dissenters are labeled as hate mongers.

Expect this type of activity to escalate.

Quoted: The left in this country only supports the first amendment rights of those who agree with them. Dissenters are labeled as hate mongers. Expect this type of activity to escalate.

+1

Quoted: The left in this country only supports the first amendment rights of those who agree with them. Dissenters are labeled as hate mongers. Expect this type of activity to escalate.

And while we continue to engage in inane pissing matches about who's getting into heaven and who's not amongst ourselves in an attempt to achieve some sort of lunatic internet superiority, the left wing human trash will inevitably tear us to shreds.

How you ask?  They are united.  Their numbers are fewer and their ideals are moronic but they stick together while we bicker over bullshit.

Pull your heads out of your asses and realize what's happened here.  Christians were arrested for protesting at an event they didn't agree with.  If it had been homosexuals protesting at a Christian event, they never would have been touched.  And if for some strange reason they were arrested; Al Sharpton, Rosie O'Donnel, and every other liberal scumbag would be down there protesting until the homos got a multimillion dollar settlement from a discrimination lawsuit.

But do you know what would be the same?  We'd still be here having an inane argument about if pillow biters got into heaven or not.  

I can't believe some of you are shooters. The target is waved in front of your faces but you miss it every time.

Quoted: Geez louise! One little paragraph and I start a shit storm! Ok now the response: I'm not even going to say "you can't yell Fire in a theatre" so we do have limits on our freedom. No I'm not even going to type it! But guess what ? The police do have a right to prevent lawlessness in the streets. Or Prevent a riot. If the police feel what you are doing could lead to a riot or 'trouble' they have a right to ask you to leave. If you do not comply that is 'Disorderly conduct' and you can be detained. (JBT's back me up on this!) Call it a preemptive Strike .

The Christians were not causing a violent or unsafe situation. They were COOPERATIVE with the police. "Disorderly conduct" hardly describes their behavior in the slightest. This was quashing their viewpoint. Pure and simple. The police quashed the "lawlessness" of people talking about Jesus. I feel safer already.

And DC was NOT the charge levied. These people are charged with FELONIES including Criminal Conspiracy, posession of instruments of crime, reckless endangerment, and "ethnic intimidation". Those are NOT laughable charges. They are far more serious than a drunk in public charge.

And all because they had the unmitigated temerity to dare and preach. You are right. They deserve to be imprisoned for doing something so horrific against the ideas of America as expressing their faith. Why stop there? Why not feed them to lions? That'll teach them.

Newsflash: If they can do this to ANYONE in America, they can do it to you too. If you don't mind the elimination of the 1st ammendment, then that is fine. Doom on you, demo.  Let's just toss the Constitution out the window!! That will show those self-righteous Christians....

B  OK, I belive you...................oh I almost forgot could you give the winner of the third race at Aquduct raceway on thursday? I got a hunch but would feel better if I knew the man upstairs was behind me.         Seriously, If you pray, and you hear a real voice answering back......................There are people out there who care and are willing to help you. Modern medicine can do wonders nowadays. The local Social services can direct you to a good hospital, However if the voice tells you to kill or you feel 'persecuted' or you might harm yourself the best thing to do is dial 911. Don't worry they'll send an ambulance, you won't get pepper sprayed or clubbed or anything.

God revealed that to me as a witness to you. You are free to reject the witness. It is your immortal soul.

But be very careful what you say. Your heartbeat is not your own. Your next breath is not assured. You are mortal and you are railing against the One who holds your very existence in His hands.

God is loving and merciful, and I pray He will continue to be merciful to you. His mercy, however, has limits.

God speaks to me REGULARLY. I hear His voice all the time, and have grown to know Him. He desires to know you too, despite your self-assurance. Asking God to prove Himself by giving you the winner of a race or by giving you lottery numbers demonstrates a complete lack of understanding who God is.

I hope He shows you who He really is, and that your heart will be soft enough to hear Him.

Quoted: But do you know what would be the same?  We'd still be here having an inane argument about if pillow biters got into heaven or not.

Would you rather we just left the pillow-biters alone, knowing that none of us were promised tomorrow?

Quoted: Quoted: um........in the interest of saving time, I'll just point out one thing there......Nobody goes to Hell for being Gay. <---doesn't like homosexuality, but thinks facts should be kept straight whenever possible..... Uhh....What exactly do you mean by that? I am hoping you have some theological explanation for that position that escapes me, because the Bible I read says that "neither idolators, or drunkards, or homosexual offenders, or adulterers" etc will inheret the Kingdom of Heaven.

Catholic Teaching...

Being a homosexual will not get you into Hell on its own... BUT any sort of homosexual sexual contact WILL (no marraige for gays, therefore gay sex=extramarital sex= hell).

Bumping this to the top because everyone needs to take a long hard look at the future that awaits us.

Quoted: I want to see an unbiased source for this.

Give the Dept. a call. You can request a report.

215.686-1292.

Quoted: Ethnic Intimidation!!?? So now homosexuality is a race?

yeah, a race to see can get AIDS first.

Quoted: Quoted: I want to see an unbiased source for this. Give the Dept. a call. You can request a report. 215.686-1292.

A good idea. I think it would be great if the department AND the city government were all swamped with calls demanding they stop such nonsense.

As well as the Governor's office.

And we should inform them that Philly is off limits to any of our buisness or conventions from now until they get their crap together.

I wonder if the police would have arrested them if they were moolisms?

Quoted: "Sin" is "sin" and ALL OF IT seperates you from God. A Lie is just as bad as molesting a little girl. The great thing is that ALL OF IT is forgiven all you have to do is REPENT and ask for forgigeness.

If homosexuality is a "sin," and someone is participating in such a lifestyle...and DOES NOT "repent and ask forgiveness" but REVELS and remains in it, that person cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

So, practicing Homosexuals, especially those who are attending "Gay Pride" events, clearly are not in a state of repentance.

Quoted: Quoted: The christian s "fucked" with the Gays so the gays fucked with'em right back? Wheres the problem? Imagine if a bunch Of KKKers went to a black Power rally handing out "all niggers go to hell pamphlets?" And then refused to disperse at the request of Law enforcement to prevent a riot?? If this truly is the "end of days" then they should actually "speed it up" so Jesus can get here faster, right? They should go into a closet (no pun intended) and pray there for the second coming. Don't worry these Gays already know who Jesus is and already know they are going to hell so there's no need to get in their face. VS. ??????????? It doesn't appear that the Chistians were in any shape or form fucking with the homosexuals. BTW - the Chistian haters look to be of the same nasty strain as the ones who surrounded Kacer and demanded she hand over her toy pistol.  After all, Kacer was running around like a loon poiinting it at everybody and yelling 'bang bang', right? Wrong.

+1

So far it looks like the Pride group and the police over reacted.

Quoted: When the Lord returns, He's going to be very, VERY upset with some people.....

Jesus is coming, and he's pissed.