Wanting It Both Ways

[DeSwiss]

"There is no constitutional right to drown out the speech of another person" - U.S. District Judge Lawrence F. Stengel

Christian Activists Vow To Appeal Dismissal Of Freedom-Of-Speech Suit

Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Philadelphia Inquirer
By Andrew Maykuth, Staff Writer

Christian activists yesterday promised to appeal the dismissal of their federal court claim that Philadelphia officials infringed on their freedom of speech when they blocked anti-homosexual protesters at a 2004 Center City gay festival.

<snip>

U.S. District Judge Lawrence F. Stengel on Thursday granted a summary judgment for the city and the event organizers, Philly Pride Presents Inc. "There is no constitutional right to drown out the speech of another person," Stengel wrote in the 52-page judgement.

The activists, whose case received extensive coverage in the Christian media, argued that the city had violated their First Amendment rights by arresting them at an event on a public street. They claimed police silenced them because of the content of their message. A city judge later dismissed the criminal charges against the 11 defendants.

<snip>

Stengel said the gay-pride event had received proper city permits, and the evangelists had neglected to take alternative means to communicate their message, including applying for a permit to hold a counterprotest. He called the activists' claims "simplistic."

Stengel's decision expands upon a 1995 Supreme Court decision that held that the Boston organizers of the St. Patrick's Day Parade could exclude gay protesters from a private parade on public streets.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/chester_county/16522093.htm

*** - The judge called these asshat's claims "simplistic." But what else can one expect from the simpleminded? Since SCOTUS ruled in 1995 that the St. Pattie's Day Parade could exclude gay protestors who'd been denied participation in Boston, then these FunDum's can't protest when they're denied participation in a Pride event. They can't have it both ways.

I swear, dumb as a box of rocks. These people really, really need to get a life.....

[meegbear]

1. I remember that case that the 11 got off ...

They were in people's faces, disobeying the police. The police warned them that if they didn't stop, they would be arrested. They kept doing it and resisted while the police arrested them.

They had a person there with a video camera, and by some odd happenstance, he had videotaped just them getting arrested; none of their previous actions were recorded. They got off in large part based on that footage. They're skanks.

[DeSwiss]

4. meegbear I wonder....

.....if that city judge would have dismissed the charges against the protesters if the shoe had been on the other foot? And what is the legal basis used to dismiss the charges when they clearly failed to obey a police officer? Does this mean that within Philadelphia's city limits, one can lawfully disobey a police officer's orders and get away with it now?

And on that note, I thought Christians were supposed to be law-abiding citizens:

"Stengel said the gay-pride event had received proper city permits, and the evangelists had neglected to take alternative means to communicate their message, including applying for a permit to hold a counterprotest."

Why do the Fundies hate parade permits???

[BOSSHOG]

2. Anti-homosexual protestors

are anti-constitution protestors. Whining motherfuckers blathering on about their constitutional liberties when they want to use the constitution as a weapon against gays because they hate gays. In the name of Jesus Christ. Me thinks they like getting close to gays. They like videotaping gay pride parades so they can go home and masturbate in the privacy of their klaverns. Sick, disgusting, hateful worthless fucks.

[DeSwiss]

6. No, no no....BOSSHOG.....

tell us how you REALLY feel! j/k :sarcasm:

I hear ya! :)

:thumbsup:

[patrice]

3. Re Dumb: Their self-contradictions continue to surprise me.

Are they unaware of how they contradict themselves at every turn?
Or do they know and don't think anyone else notices?
Or do they know and don't care because they think their virtues give them the right to make exceptions?

Of course, the standard answer is: any one or more of the above. And it's KR's job to design programs to exploit all three types of Publicans.

[BOSSHOG]

8. And therefore

they should be considered domestic enemies of the constitution, because that is exactly what they are.

[Tyo]

5. But I don't think that they are dumb. That's the problem

They simply and sincerely believe that that Bible, or their interpretation of it, trumps the Constitution and all civil law. In their view, civil law is valid and enforcable only to the extent that it protects them and furthers their interests as it does when it keeps gay participants and protestors away from the St Paddy's Day parade. When fails to do these things it becomes irrevelvant because a "higher law" then kicks in. They are fanatics pure and simple. Reason is powerless against them.

[murielm99]

7. At the Chicago gay pride parades,

they have a place for them to protest. They stand in one place with their signs. I think once they even had a loudspeaker.

Everyone just ignores them. They are not allowed to get in people's faces.

One year, I wanted to walk past them and give them the finger. My daughter stopped me. She was afraid I would get arrested.

[Democrats_win]

9. "that which people miscall their religion, is a vent for their bad-humours & arrogance."

from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens