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Justice Department Must Intervene on Behalf of Philadelphia Christians, CWA Says Washington, D.C. – Concerned Women for America (CWA) urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to intervene on behalf of four Philadelphia Christian men who were arraigned today on “hate crime” felony charges stemming from a peaceful protest at a homosexual street event on October 10, 2004. “The District Attorney’s office went berserk, saddling them with criminal charges including trying to incite a riot, even though the protesters were peaceful,” said Robert Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute. “Their crime was to cite Bible verses, which a prosecutor called ‘hateful,’ and to urge homosexuals, like other sinners, to repent. It’s frightening to see religious persecution on American soil, especially in the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence. The Justice Department needs to step in and investigate this civil rights violation by the city of Philadelphia.” The case originated when 11 Christians associated with Repent America began preaching and singing at Outfest, a homosexual street event. The Christians, led by Repent America founder Michael Marcavage, were surrounded by the Pink Angels, a group of homosexuals who held up Styrofoam signs, blocking the group. Police arrested only the Christians. After viewing a videotape of the incident at the December 14 hearing, Municipal Court Judge William Austin Meehan dropped charges against six other defendants, including a 72-year-old grandmother. A juvenile defendant awaits separate court action. The four adult defendants, who face a total of 47 years in prison if convicted of the three felonies and five misdemeanors, pled not guilty. “The felony charges in particular are outrageous. We’re talking about expressing an opinion in a public area,” Knight said. “This shows why ‘hate crime’ laws are a threat to the freedoms of speech and assembly, and are a tool for crushing Christian evangelism.”