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Court: Philly Police May have Conspired with Homosexual Activists Against Pastors

By Gudrun Schultz

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, May 31, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A U.S. district court judge has refused to release the homosexual activist group Philly Pride Presents from a lawsuit brought by members of the Christian group Repent America.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eleven members of Repent America, claiming allegations of a conspiracy between Philly Pride and the Philadelphia police to deny the group free speech during the homosexual celebration of "OutFest" in October 2004.

The group was harassed and prevented from speaking by homosexual activists known as the "Pink Angels," and were arrested by the police and charged with multiple crimes under the Pennsylvania "hate crimes" law. The charges were later dismissed in court.

The eleven members brought a lawsuit against Philly Pride and the city on allegations of conspiracy between Philly Pride and the Philadelphia Police to prevent them from delivering their message.

Judge Lawrence F. Stengel said the allegations had merit and refused to comply with Philly Pride's request to be released from the lawsuit.

"In this case, Plaintiffs have pleaded sufficient facts to infer a conspiracy between the Philly Pride Defendants and the other defendants. The Complaint alleges a number of facts sufficient to support an inference of a conspiracy to deprive Plaintiffs of their constitutional rights."

The lawsuit pointed out that Chief Inspector James Tiano of the Philadelphia Police Department testified during the criminal proceedings that police met with "OutFest" organizers 3 or 4 times beforehand and discussed ways of preventing repent America from gaining access to the event.

"Chief Inspector Tiano's comments seem to make it clear that the City conspired with the organizers of 'OutFest' to ensure that Repent America would not have access to the event to exercise their protected rights under both our state and federal Constitutions," said attorney Ted Hoppe, representing the eleven plaintiffs, in a Repent America press release last week.

"We are most pleased with the [sic] Judge Stengel's decision to deny Philly Pride Presents' motion to dismiss, and look forward to the discovery phase of the case," Repent America director Michael Marcavage said.

"The discovery process will afford us the opportunity to conduct depositions in order to further investigate evidence and document the conspiratorial actions between Philly Pride and the Philadelphia Police to violate our civil rights."

"The City's action at the 'OutFest' event demonstrated a clear hostility toward Repent America and the content of their message," Ted Hoppe said. "Through this lawsuit, we hope to send a message to the City of Philadelphia, its police force, as well as Philly Pride Presents, that they do not have the right to interfere with Repent America's constitutionally protected rights to free speech and free exercise of religion simply because they do not agree with the content of their message."

See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Prayer and Scripture Reading During Gay Celebration Could Cost Christians 47 Years in Prison
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/dec/04121704.html

Philadelphia Pride Parade Featured Simulated Sex Acts
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jun/05061405.html

Freedom of Speech Rights for Christian Pastors Confronting Gay Pride Upheld in Pennsylvania
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06052408.html

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