Richmond Police Department Continues To Trample On Christian's RightsSeptember 04, 2005
On Friday, September 2, A Christian was once again cited for exercising his First Amendment Rights on a public sidewalk in Richmond, Virginia.
For years the Richmond Police Department has misused its authority and abused law abiding citizens whose only crime is that they take seriously the Scriptural command to share the Gospel in the public square.
This most recent act of harassment was once again perpetrated by Officer Howard Noyse, Badge# 7630.
After two useless "investigations" into their own department, the RPD has done absolutely nothing to rein in this abusive officer.
Every time we are forced to return to court to face fabricated charges, we are vindicated.
"What is it going to take to make the RPD enforce the law upon their own? This abuse of power and harrassment has become a regular occurance and the RPD has shown no desire to act on the behalf of those who are the victims of thier rogue cops." said Dennis Green, director of Life and Liberty Ministries.
Each incident has involved RPD Officers who are on the payroll of abortion clinics located within the city. One must wonder if their is corruption at the higher levels of the RPD for this unbearable situation to go on year after year.
After being cited Mr. Fred Neal said,
"How is it that after so many years and letters, the RPD continues to ignore the voice of the poeple? You have to wonder why if it's not corruption, what can it be? At the very least it must be the love of money that would motivate them to jeopardize their own reputation and the reputation of the Department."
Mr Neal's court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 20, 2005.
Please let your voice be heard. Please write to the RPD and the Mayor to express your concerns and ask that the RPD will put a stop to the continued abuses.
Chief of Police Rodney Monroe
Richmond Police Department
200 W. Grace Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Mayor Douglas Wilder
900 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Related Stories
News ReleaseApril 8, 2005
News ReleaseNovember 18, 2004
RPD Continues to Trample on Christian's Rights
Discussion in '2005 Archive' started by lifeandliberty, Sep 4, 2005.
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Unfortunately, many times corruption starts at the top.
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I can't help but think we're getting just one side of the story. What were you arrested for, and why do you believe you were not guilty of the charges?
Also, what was the outcome of the 9-20 case? -
Is this the same activist group that shouted at members of William and Mary College's Students for Life organization phrases like "Turn to Jesus, or you're going to hell". According to students Amy Green and Caitlin DeMarco (who, btw, are Christians), they are. L & L ministries is unfortunately not making friends with other pro-life groups.
In this case, L & L Ministries shouted at passersby on campus with a bullhorn repeatedly. While they or any other group has the right to peaceably assemble and practice free speech, that right does not include disrupting the learning environment, which they most certainly did, according to students there that day (and this was according to pro-life Christians students). I believe they had to be escorted off cambus by campus police for disturbing the peace.
This doesn't exactly sound like constitutionally guaranteed peaceful assembly and free speech. This makes the content of the OP suspect. I don't believe the poster is telling us the whole truth. There is no place in Christianity for this type of "ministry". -
None of what you have stated happened at William and Mary. Our outreach went well with many great conversations and the Campus police worked with us to set up an area where biblical preaching could take place. Everything went well and there were no problems. Your sources aren't being honest. -
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This is the same poster who cried persecution when instructed not to leave his tracts in the library books. The types of tactics used by this "ministry" is what turns people against Christianity. Just because one thinks they have a higher calling to civil disobedience doesn't mean the law will ignore their behavior. This is not persecution. Many uninformed Christians in western societies love to use that word, but none of them have ever had anything close to persecution.
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I have to agree with the basic point brought out by Johnv here. Many times these types of groups do things to provoke law enforcement. I have seen "Repent America" do this kind of thing. Now having said that I want to focus on a more important issue.
That issue can be summed up in a quick question: What do you really expect?
Even if we can assume for a moment that this group was simply preaching the Biblical Gospel (and nothing more) and where arrested for this, what do you expect? Do you really expect spiritually dead children of the devil to not persecute the followers of Christ, children of God? They always have and Jesus said they would! So what is the problem?
Have we read the Gospels lately? What did Jesus say (WDJS??). I am always amazed when I see Christians who seem to think that persecution is something they have a right to live without. Friend if we live Godly in Christ Jesus we will be, not might be, persecuted. This is the position of the Apostle Paul and Jesus Christ Himself! Of course this DOES NOT mean we go looking for persecution. The point is that by living Godly for Christ we will be persecuted.
"Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" 2Tim 3:12
"You will be hated by ALL because of My name...if they have called the head of the house Beelzebul how much more will they malign the members of His household? Therefore do not fear them for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness speakin the light and what you hear whispereed in your ear, prolcaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" Matt 10, selected verses.
Beyond all of this the Apostles (etc) did not find persecution and threats to be surprising. In fact Scripture tells us that they "went on their way from the presence of the Council rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His Name" (Acts 5:40-42). They did not go around saying the leaders were corrupt (thought many probably were). What did they do? They took it as part of their Christian witness. They understood Jesus' words and they obeyed His command, "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matt 5:11-12). Notice that we are to rejoice when we are persecuted for "His Name". We are to expect it and rejoice when it happens. However we should not be persecuted for something wrong we have done (see 1Peter 3:13-18). This takes me full circle to what I said above.
The problem with Christian political activism is that it (a) replaces the saving gospel with a non-saving false message, (b) causes Christians to be hated and persecuted for all the wrong reasons, and (c) causes Christians to loose focus on what is really important.
I could also add that what was described in the original post as persecution DOES NOT in anyway relate to real persecution. There are people in the world today who literally lose their lives for the Name of Christ! Look back in church history my friend. People were beat, killed in brutal fashions, and abandoned by family and friends because of the Gospel and the Name of Christ. That is persecution. What is described in the original post here is, at best, persecution-light. That is, of course, assuming that the group was just simply preaching the gospel in a law abiding fashion and were not provoking law enforcement (by breaking a law). I find it hard to believe that street preachers who are just preaching the gospel, who respect/obey local laws, would be arrested. There are street preachers around this area all the time. None of them are arrested unless they break a law (and preaching the gospel is not against the law in our society). So I must assume the group was doing more than just preaching the gospel. What "more" I don't know but I have seen these type of groups in action before. They push law enforcement into arresting them (etc) then claim persecution.
Martin. -
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I got the information firsthand from some Christian kids who are members of Students for Life, who verified to me L&L's harrassment of the students that day.
What happened in court on 9-20? Was it continued, rescheduled, what??
You failed to answer my other questions, and that falure is so noted. -
I got the information firsthand from some Christian kids who are members of Students for Life, who verified to me L&L's harrassment of the students that day.
What happened in court on 9-20? Was it continued, rescheduled, what??
You failed to answer my other questions, and that falure is so noted. </font>[/QUOTE]Your source is dishonest or has just stated something that they did not see firsthand. There was no harrassment at W&M while we were there. The outreach went very well.
The case against Mr. Neal was continued. Therefore, it has not yet gone to trial. Rudeness and insults are out of place on the Baptist Board. -
It's somewhat disconcerting that you don't see the lack of credibility in the method of you Christian witness.
Are you denying that L&L was shouting "Turn to Jesus, or you're going to hell" from a bullhorn?
Are you denying that this was disruptive to the learning environment?
Are you claiming that you notified the school of your presence prior to your visit?
Are you claiming that you had the support of the campus's Christian pro-life group?
Are you claiming that there was no dissention to your presence?
What is Mr Neal being charged with, and why do you believe he is not guilty?
What were you arrested for?
Why do you believe you were not guilty of the charges? -
lifeandliberty:
I am waiting on your response to the Biblical issues raised in my post.
Martin. -
It's somewhat disconcerting that you don't see the lack of credibility in the method of you Christian witness.
Are you denying that L&L was shouting "Turn to Jesus, or you're going to hell" from a bullhorn?
Are you denying that this was disruptive to the learning environment?
Are you claiming that you notified the school of your presence prior to your visit?
Are you claiming that you had the support of the campus's Christian pro-life group?
Are you claiming that there was no dissention to your presence?
What is Mr Neal being charged with, and why do you believe he is not guilty?
What were you arrested for?
Why do you believe you were not guilty of the charges? </font>[/QUOTE]"Are you denying that L&L was shouting "Turn to Jesus, or you're going to hell" from a bullhorn?"
This is untrue. There was Biblical preaching but nobody yelled through bullhorns the things you state.
"Are you denying that this was disruptive to the learning environment?"
This is untrue. We were located in an area that the campus police asked us to be. It is set aside for first amendment speech.
"Are you claiming that you notified the school of your presence prior to your visit?"
I never made the claim that we notified the campus. It was not required. We met with the appropriate person while we were there and he allowed us to stay.
"Are you claiming that you had the support of the campus's Christian pro-life group?"
I have never spoken with nor am I aware of any Christian pro-life group on campus.
"Are you claiming that there was no dissention to your presence?"
The Gospel, faithfully preached will always stir up those who hate it. Some were glad we came while others didn't like to hear the Gospel. If you have eaver done any preaching to the lost on campuses you would know exactly what I mean. It was a great outreach and no problems developed. -
The charges against Mr. Neal were once again dropped.
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That is harrassment and is to be expected.If you want to read about real persecution go to Voice of the Martyrs.We have brothers and sisters being beaten,jailed,and killed at a rate today higher in number then at any time in human history.
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"The man whose little sermon is "repent" sets himself against his age, and will for the time being be battered mercilessly by the age whose moral tone he challenges. There is but one end for such a man - "off with his head!" You had better not try to preach repentance until you have pledged your head to heaven."
Joseph Parker