Chicago cops squelch free speech rights of Christian activists at Gay Games

Chicago's playing host to the quadrennial Gay Games celebration. Groups not affiliated with Gay Games Chicago are choosing different ways to observe Gay Games Week in the Second City. Repent America, for one.

The below press release was e-mailed to me late last night.

REPENT AMERICA (RA) is an evangelistic organization based in the birthplace of America freedom, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RA members came to Chicago for the Gay Games because "sin destroys lives, families, communities, and nations." They saw an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus who wants people to repent because "the truth is that God has put in the Bible clear prohibitions against homosexual behavior." RA's method is to engage people in conversations and pass out literature in public venues under the protection of the First Amendment of the US Constitution. However, on Sunday afternoon July 16, in Gateway Park across from the entrance to Navy Pier, Chicago Police officers handcuffed and arrested three of the RA volunteers and yelled profanities saying that "no one wants to hear your G** D*** B*** S***"

Today, RA filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, demanding that Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority (MPEA) allow the evangelists to share their message at Gateway Park. After the case was assigned to Senior Judge Milton Shadur and then in his absence temporarily reassigned to Judge Virginia Kendall for emergency adjudication, the MPEA agreed to allow the evangelists immediate access to Gateway Park and not have the Chicago Police charge them with trespass. Therefore, they'll return to the park on Wednesday, July 19 in the afternoon.

Clear Violation of Free Speech

"We've been down this road before. The local mayor (My note, Richard M. Daley), wants to curry favor with homosexual activists and sends the message that First Amendment goes out the window for opposing viewpoints," said Michael Marcavage, director of Repent America.

"Thankfully the first amendment still allows us to deliver a warning and a message of hope to people who are going the wrong direction and have the desire to have their deep wounds healed."

Courts Regularly Support Repent America's Free Speech Rights

Earlier this year, a federal district court judge in Pennsylvania ruled that actions designed to prevent RA from preaching and evangelizing near a homosexual event in a Pennsylvania city park were unconstitutional restrictions of free speech.

In February 2005, a Philadelphia Judge dismissed all charges against 11 Christians who were arrested in 2004 for ministering on public sidewalks at the pro-homosexual "Outfest" taking place in Philadelphia. The judge ruled that peaceful expressive activities like those of the Christian evangelists, all members of the group Repent America, are fully protected by the First Amendment.

"This emergency injunction is for everyone that loves gay men or women or values free speech. Repent America loves gays passionately enough to devote their lives to telling them there is a better way. Here you have a group that says Jesus heals, Jesus can take away the pain, and Jesus can give you life and life more abundantly. How can gays make informed decisions about their lives if the police won't allow them to have information about alternatives?" said attorney John Mauck, of Mauck & Baker, who is representing Repent America. "The lawsuit we filed this morning will continue against Chicago for the false arrest of the evangelists."

Contacts for Media:

Michael Marcavage, director of Repent America 800-373-7368 x 5
John Mauck, Mauck & Baker, Attorney for Repent America 312-853-8709
Tom Ciesielka, TC Public Relations 312-422-1333

Maybe you don't agree with Repent America's message, but they clearly have First Amendment rights to express themselves in a lawful manner.

In related news, On the same day, other Christian activists had a better, if not lonely time of it up in suburban Crystal Lake, for the Gay Games rowing competition. Those preaching the Word were shunted off to the side into--I'm not making this up--a 1st Amendment Participation Area.

From Cal Skinner's McHenry County Blog:

Using signs that surely had been used before, the Christians I saw and talked with were not the Fred Phelps types. They were not spewing hate. They were preaching love and redemption.

Techorati tags: Christianity Christian Religion Gays Chicago Gay Games Crystal Lake Religion First Amendment Free Speech