Free speech banned in Houston.

Street preachers arrested after someone complained to the police that they were calling homosexuality a sin. And interestingly enough, they just somehow happen to be scheduled to have their trial in front of the only openly lesbian judge in the city. I'm sure that's a coincidence, and I'm sure she'll give them a fair trial too... not. First cop there tells them they aren't doing anything wrong, next cop there tells them to get rid of their signs even though they were approved and are legal according to the city laws. They the cops arrive in force and simply jump them and arrest them without warning. The camera keeps rolling, and even though you don't really see anything, you can hear the cops talking. In that last minute of the clip, you can hear them discussing what they can charge them for. It's apparent they arrested them first then tried to come up with a reason afterward. It's just like the UK now, not allowed to preach the bible in public. They'll probably ban the book and start burning it next.

Quote :

By Bob Unruh
© 2011 WND


Two veteran street preachers in Houston are facing a bench trial for spreading the biblical message about homosexuality – and other sins – on one of their favorite corners for preaching in Houston.

That the message was direct is obvious, from a photo of the situation that developed for David Stokes of BulldogMinistries.com and Dave Allen of HornofSamuelBook.com:

Their sign warns those who are "Drunks, homosexuals, abortionist, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, witches, idolators" that "Hell awaits you."

Their hearing will be in Houston Municipal Court, which is run by Barbara E. Hartle, who, according to the Dallas Voice, is listed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund as "one of only a few out members of the Texas judiciary."

She was appointed to the position by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, identified by the Los Angeles Times as "the first lesbian to head a major American city."

Allen told WND that no matter what happens, the fact that the ministers were handcuffed and ticketed, with their signs and shofar confiscated for a time, sent a chilling message about free speech regarding religion and homosexuality.

Technically, they were ticketed for having signs thicker than one-quarter inch (they say they were 3/16ths and that they'd been approved beforehand), and for having a sign not made out of wood (their shofar is a ram's horn style).

Officers responded after someone apparently complained about the messengers and their message, but a video reveals that the first officer on the scene told them they weren't doing anything wrong.

It was a few minutes later, however, when officers approached the preachers, apparently grabbed a video camera, wrestled them to the ground and put them in handcuffs.

That's even though Stokes and Allan have been preaching at that location for several years.

The video recording shows that the officers discussed the situation with each other, saying, "They can be out there all they want," and "There was no problem, but we have to do a report on this guy."

There's also a reference to "one way to get rid of them," coupled with a muffled statement that appears to say, "Seize the signs."

The ministers reported on a YouTube video description that that "police officer admits to trying to take the signs away in order to get us to leave the corner."

To Allen, that sounds like a First Amendment speech infringement.

"We have been preaching on this corner with these same signs for two years," he says in the YouTube introduction.

A local television station also reported on the developing controversy:

Allen told WND he blows the shofar and others preach to passersby because of the Old Testament warning that those who know the truth of God's will and don't deliver it to others will bear the responsibility of that failure.

Allen told WND the ministries largely have had a reasonable relationship with the Houston Police Department, but this incident seemed to be reaching for the men in blue.

He said he couldn't speculate on what impact the ministries' message of biblical condemnation for homosexuality may have on the outcome of their case.

"Preaching is all we were doing," he said. "Against all sins."

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=373377

I see appeal all over this one.

Case dismissed. Now the preachers should turn around and sue the police for false imprisonment, harassment and assault.

Quote :

By Bob Unruh
© 2011 WND


A Houston, Texas, court system managed by an "out" lesbian judge has dismissed municipal tickets that had been written against two pastors who were preaching against sin, including homosexuality, on a prominent street corner.

The verdicts came today in a bench trial for David Stokes of BulldogMinistries.com and Dave Allen of HornofSamuelBook.com.

The men were ticketed for having signs thicker than one-quarter inch (they say they were 3/16ths and that they'd been approved beforehand) and for having a sign not made out of wood (their shofar is a ram's horn style).

Officers responded after someone apparently complained about the messengers and their message, but a video shows that the first officer on the scene told them they weren't doing anything wrong.

It was a few minutes later, however, when officers approached the preachers, apparently grabbed a video camera, wrestled them to the ground and put them in handcuffs.

That's even though Stokes and Allan have been preaching at that location for several years.

The video recording shows that the officers discussed the situation with each other, saying, "They can be out there all they want," and "There was no problem, but we have to do a report on this guy."

Allen told WND today after the court hearing that both cases were dismissed for lack of evidence. The ruling came from Judge Adam Silverman of the Houston Municipal Court, which is run by Barbara E. Hartle, who, according to the Dallas Voice, is listed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund as "one of only a few out members of the Texas judiciary."

She was appointed to the position by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, identified by the Los Angeles Times as "the first lesbian to head a major American city."

Allen told WND that he and Stokes were called up to the bench and told almost immediately that their cases were dismissed. They awaited the necessary paperwork and then left.

"I walked down the aisle and out the double doors holding my finger pointed to the sky," he said. "We're going back to preaching again very soon."

Allen said the decision was not a precedent on the city's ordinances regarding sign materials, and the result will not discourage him from returning to preach and blow his shofar.

He said the warnings about sin and judgment come out of love and obedience, and nothing else.

Allen told WND he blows the shofar and others preach to passersby because of the Old Testament warning that those who know the truth of God's will and don't deliver it to others will bear the responsibility of that failure.

That the message was direct is obvious from a photo of the situation that developed.

Their sign warns those who are "drunks, homosexuals, abortionist, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, witches, idolators" that "Hell awaits you."

Allen said the concern was the fact the officers handcuffed and ticketed the pastors and confiscated for a time their signs and shofar, sending a chilling message about free speech regarding religion and homosexuality.

The video revealed that there was a reference by one of the officers to "one way to get rid of them," coupled with a muffled statement that appears to say, "Seize the signs."

The ministers reported on a YouTube video description that that "police officer admits to trying to take the signs away in order to get us to leave the corner."

To Allen, that sounds like a First Amendment speech infringement.

"We have been preaching on this corner with these same signs for two years," he says in the YouTube introduction.

"Preaching is all we were doing," he said. "Against all sins."

But if that were the idiot occupiers the cops would sit back as they crap on there cop cars and rape people at random.