News

By Kathleen Gilbert

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, July 19, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A disabled black pastor was arrested in Charlotte Saturday after giving pro-life witness on public property outside an abortion facility.

At 8:30 AM on July 17, Pastor Ronnie Wallace, a pastor and disabled veteran, was arrested by seven police officers on the public right of way in front of the Family Reproductive Health Abortion Clinic on Hebron St, Charlotte N.C. The police reportedly insisted that Wallace was violating an ordinance that forbids blocking the right of way “in consideration of the harm or risk created by the obstruction.”

Pastor Wallace, who regularly witnesses outside the clinic, walks with a cane and cannot stand for long periods of time. Dr. Pat McEwen, media relations director of Operation Save America and a witness to the arrest, said that Pastor Wallace was preaching atop a step ladder approximately 12 ft from the road, well away from traffic.

Police first told Wallace to stop using his bullhorn, an order the pastor complied with.

“But of course, he's a black southern Pastor – they preach louder when they're preaching than you can use in a bullhorn. So it was still loud,” said McEwen. When police ordered Wallace to stop preaching altogether and come down from his ladder, Wallace refused. Police impounded the stepladder and arrested Wallace, who was later released on bail.

McEwen said that Wallace's arrest warrant does not mention the right-of-way ordinance – even though the pro-lifers were handed a copy of the ordinance – but instead indicates that Wallace was arrested for disobeying a police order. The pastor is scheduled to appear in court in August.

LSN's attempt to contact Charlotte police spokesman Rob Tufano went unanswered as of press time.