Cops versus preachers on public sidewalk
A street preacher is accusing police of violating his constitutional rights after officers arrested him for not having a parade permit while he spoke out against homosexuality on a public sidewalk in Manchester, Ga.
Chris Pettigrew and Pastor Billy Ball and of Faith Baptist Church in Primrose, Ga., were arrested multiple times Aug 24 after they held signs on a public street corner telling people to repent and declaring homosexuality a sin.
“There were four of us to begin with. We weren’t preaching with any amplified sound,” Pettigrew told WND. “Basically, as soon as we got out of the cars and started toward the sidewalk, Manchester city police officers showed up and asked us if we had a parade permit.”
He continued, “We did not have a parade permit, and we informed them that we had no plans for obtaining a parade permit because we weren’t in a parade.”
Pettigrew said officers from the Manchester Police Department were initially cordial when they told him he must have a permit to stand on the sidewalk with his sign.
“We simply said, ‘We can’t do that. It’s our constitutional right to free speech. We’re not impeding any kind of traffic. We’re peaceably assembled, so we’re going to do what we came to do,’” he said.
At that moment, another officer arrived, joined the others and told the men they must obtain a permit to remain on the sidewalk.
First Amendment: “ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ”
So, these officers violated the Free Speech, Freedom of Worship and Peaceful Assembly provisions of the First Amendment. They should be arrested for violating these citizens Civil Rights and imprisoned for long sentences. Why so harsh?
We must make a clear statement that Law Enforcement must obey the Bill of Rights, no matter what local ordinace, state law or political party might say to the contrary. These rights are fundamental to our liberty!
Yes, if these people represented a clear threat to health and safety, a threat of violence or blocked access to other citizens there might be some justification, but ‘standing on a sidewalk” in America cannot ever be criminalized. Niether can expressing one’s political or religious views be hindered by threats of intimidation in the public square.
