A Christian street preacher has been arrested for protesting an LGBTQ pride event – only to have charges thrown out when the local prosecutor agreed his First Amendment rights had been violated.
Damon Atkins, 41, was seen on camera holding a sign at the June 3 Pride event in the town of Reading which read ‘Jesus said go and sin no more’ and quoted Bible verses to marchers .
The police came and confronted Atkins, who pointed out he was on public property.
The officer can be seen telling him as ‘it’s public property’ he should ‘let them have their day’ and ‘respect it’ – in reference to those celebrating pride.
Atkins can be heard responding, “You know who’s cheering us on?” People who are in Hell. So you do you and I’ll do me.
A Christian preacher was arrested for quoting Bible verses in support of protesters at an LGBTQ+ Pride event in Pennsylvania, but the case was dropped after the district attorney said cops were wrong
The First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of any religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or restricting freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people to assemble peacefully and demand that the government redress their grievances.
This right allows an individual not to be prosecuted for comments they make with the term “hate speech” not recognized as a legal term in the United States.
As the video continues, Atkins can be seen continuing to preach a verse from Corinthians when Officer Bradley McClure is heard saying, “That’s it, you’re done” before handcuffing Atkins.
Atkins is then removed and placed against a wall for safety – as applause rings out from people in the background attending the Pride event.
“I can’t believe this is happening in Reading,” one person can be heard saying off-camera.
Matthew Wear, who took the video, added that it was “an incredible providence that the Lord would allow me to film this”.
Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli said Atkins was only arrested because he was “messy” and had nothing to do with the content of his speech.
“Our officers gave him warnings to stop this behavior as it disrupted the event that was unfolding,” he said. WFMZ.
Damon Atkins, 41, was seen on camera holding a sign at the June 3 Pride event in the town of Reading which read ‘Jesus said go and sin no more’ and quoted Bible verses to marchers
The police came and confronted Atkins, who pointed out he was on public property, but to no avail as they eventually arrested him.
Atkins is then removed and placed against a wall for safety as applause is heard in the background
Events in the town of Reading’s Pride are thought to be the first audiences in its history, according to local reports.
Tornelli complained later that week that he received “hundreds of calls to phone lines used for emergency and non-emergency requests for police assistance”, complaining about Atkins’ arrest.
He even suggested that the “inappropriate and despicable language” and possible threats used could lead them to press charges against anyone who calls.
However, Atkins had the charges against him dropped on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.
“After a review of the incident that occurred on June 3, 2023 in the 800 block of Washington Street in the City of Reading, the District Attorney’s Office has withdrawn the disorderly conduct charges filed against Damon Atkins.”
“Charges were dropped after the District Attorney’s Office reviewed video footage of the incident as well as applicable case law.”
Steinbaugh, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said he was “relieved but still found the whole ordeal ridiculous”.
“Damon should never have been handcuffed in the first place and the city must take action to correct its officer’s misconduct and ensure that its officers do not violate the First Amendment in the future,” Steinbaugh added.
Atkins had the charges against him dropped on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.
“Charges were dropped after the district attorney’s office reviewed the videos of the incident as well as applicable case law,” a spokesperson for the district attorney said.
Atkins spoke about his arrest with CBN on Tuesday, saying he was grateful for the support he received even before the charges were dropped.
“I don’t want anyone to think that I hate anyone. I love my neighbor as the Lord Jesus taught me to love myself, that’s why I was there,” he said.
He did, however, say it was “scary” to see drag queens in public, especially around children.
“I have to warn my brothers and sisters – and I’m not just talking about them – I like to talk about Jesus and I warn everyone. There are people who come to me who live in lamentable sin. There is no It’s not just homosexuals.
