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Title: City banishes Bibles during 'gay' fest
Source:
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URL Source: http://www.wnd.com/2012/04/city-banishes-bibles-during-gay-fest/
Published: Apr 4, 2012
Author: Drew Zahn
Post Date: 2012-04-04 07:11:13 by A K A Stone
Keywords: None
Views: 10238
Comments: 28
For over a decade, Brian Johnson has peaceably passed out Bibles during Minneapolis’ Twin Cities Pride Festival, but if he tries it again this year, he fears, he could be arrested. Through some clever legal wrangling, Twin Cities Pride, the organizers of the annual festival celebrating homosexuality, have convinced the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to allow them to exile anyone attempting to distribute Bibles or communicate unapproved messages at the event to a “no pride zone” far away from the festivities. Now Johnson is filing a federal lawsuit against the Board, claiming it can’t banish First Amendment free speech rights to a 10′ x 10′ square off the beaten path, especially during a major public event in which organizers have a non-exclusive permit to use the park. “The government should not be exiling free speech, it should be protecting it,” said Nate Kellum, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, which is assisting Johnson. “It’s ridiculous to say that the only place where people can hand out Bibles is an area where there’s no one to hand Bibles to. The Constitution simply does not permit the board to relegate free speech to isolated regions where no one can receive the message. That’s not free speech at all. It’s pure censorship.” Johnson began attending the Pride Fest in 1995, freely offering Bibles and conversation about the love of Jesus Christ and salvation, but never, he says, a message of confrontation or condemnation of homosexuality. “Over the years, [I have] come across many individuals in the GLBT community who have expressed disdain and distrust for organized religion,” Johnson asserts in documents filed with the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, “and [I want] those individuals to know the real Jesus.” In 1998, Johnson even began renting a booth every year at Pride Fest, so he’d have a central place to distribute Bibles and his message of God’s salvation for all sinners, regardless of what sins they may commit. Pride Fest, a two-day event that convenes at Loring Park, the city’s largest, has been an annual happening for over 30 years and draws upward of 200,000 people with its multiple stages of live events and carnival-like atmosphere – a perfect place, Johnson says, “to reach as many people as possible with [the] message of good news.” But in 2009, Twin Cities Pride denied Johnson’s application for a booth and further confronted him and his family when they arrived at the park to distribute Bibles through the crowd. City police then showed up and arrested Johnson for trespassing, though the charges were subsequently dropped. Twin Cities Pride then sued the Park Board themselves, seeking an injunction and restraining order against Johnson distributing Bibles. According to a KARE-TV report, lawyers for Twin Cities Pride said if the Board allowed Johnson into the park during the festival, it would violate a 1995 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that held private organizations with a permit to use a public street for expressive purposes cannot be compelled by the government to include a group whose message contradicts the organizer’s. Eileen Scallen, co-counsel to Pride Fest argued the Board’s refusal to stop Johnson would be “akin to allowing the Klu Klux Klan to openly convey their racist and anti-immigration views at the Cinco de Mayo festival.” But Johnson claims the analogy doesn’t hold true for his ministry. “Johnson had no interest in participating in – or interfering with – Pride Fest activities,” his lawsuit claims. “He only wanted to express his message via Bible distribution, a message distinct from the festival itself. Johnson only wanted to hand out Bibles and talk about Jesus.” Furthermore, his lawsuit states, “While engaging in conversations with individuals attending Pride Fest, Johnson has always made a conscious effort to avoid any discussion about the propriety of homosexuality. He does not go there to condemn anyone. He focuses on the reality that all people sin – whether involved homosexual behavior or not – and thus all need Jesus.” Apparently, the District Court agreed with Johnson, for it refused the restraining order and ruled not only would the Board not violate the festival’s rights by allowing Johnson to distribute Bibles, but also granting the Twin Cities Pride injunction would, in fact, violate Johnson’s First Amendment rights. The District Court did suggest in a footnote, however, that Twin Cities Pride could set up “free speech zones,” a suggestion that the organization promptly jumped upon. In May 2011, the Board – without Johnson’s input – settled the Twin Cities Pride lawsuit by agreeing to allow two concessions: First, the event organizers could restrict any unauthorized literature distribution to an unmanned giveaway table within the festival, and second, Twin Cities Pride could establish a “free speech zone” for booths whose message was rejected by event organizers. Twin Cities Pride promptly publicized the “free speech zone” as a “no pride zone” and designated its spot. But according to Johnson’s lawsuit, the zone “is placed away from all of the routes and pathways entering Loring Park. … A booth outside of the Pride Fest event did not allow Johnson to reach his intended audience (those attending Pride Fest) with his message via Bibles.” Furthermore, the suit contends, “The drop-off zone for materials was equally unsuitable because Johnson wanted to supply the Bibles himself, assuring that interested individuals would receive the Bibles (instead of being destroyed or thrown away) and that he would be available to converse with anyone who was interested in his Bible message.” The net effect of the settlement, Johnson’s suit claims, is not only the banishment of Bible distribution from the event, but also exile for those that would speak of Jesus. ADF-allied attorney Stan Zahorsky is serving as local counsel in the case, Johnson v. Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. The next Pride Fest is scheduled for June 23 and 24, 2012.
Poster Comment: I have an idea. If the faggots don't like free speech. How about taking a baseball bat and bashing their heads in.
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#1. To: All (#0)
What an evil bitch. She deserves to be whipped with a chain. Her father must have really sucked to raise a freak. If someone sends me plane tickets I will go there and disrupt these queers. Maybe even kick some ass.
Dang, now they have "normal people" free speech zones... a cage with razor wire. It's like the DNC convention in Boston. Romney would love it!
Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.
You might want to reconsider remarks about baseball bats. Recall what happened to the Hutaree. Of course, that was part of the purpose in the feds doing that, to intimidate people. I would guess the feds will toss this arrangement. Even more so if the bible guy isn't airing anti-gay posters or talking anti-gay. If he is just distributing bibles, then I don't see how they can remotely justify segregating him for that.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he's telling gays they're an abomination and going to hell.
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
According to the article, he specifically avoids that.
That isn't true as was pointed out to you. But it is true. They are an abomination and going to hell. Unless they change and repent. They will be there with Obama and Michelle.
I guess that depends on who you find credible.
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
It wasn't in the article. Show me a link where that case is made. I don't think you can do that because it is not true. If you could you definitely would to prove me wrong. But you can't because you were making stuff up again.
Belstler said the area set aside for non-Pride booths is a major entrance to the park. "It's on the corner of 15th and Lyndale," she said. Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
The link is in my post above. If you were a gentleman, you would apologize.
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
You were right. I am wrong. Sorry. But now back to business. Who cares what his speech is. He can say anything he wants to. And he happens to be right.
Nope. They can't do it there and then,and they can't do it anywhere at any time. Any of these yahoos ever heard of "Freedom of Religion"? But in 2009, Twin Cities Pride denied Johnson’s application for a booth.. Which is their right. and further confronted him and his family when they arrived at the park to distribute Bibles through the crowd. Which AIN'T their right. They have as much right to circulate through a crowd holding an event on public property as anyone else that was there. RIGHTS! WE ALL HAVE THEM! lawyers for Twin Cities Pride said if the Board allowed Johnson into the park during the festival, it would violate a 1995 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that held private organizations with a permit to use a public street for expressive purposes cannot be compelled by the government to include a group whose message contradicts the organizer’s. The lawyers AND the SC are wrong about that one. Cities and even states do NOT own the land they manage. They hold and manage it in the name of the public and because of this they have no right to treat it like private property. Eileen Scallen, co-counsel to Pride Fest argued the Board’s refusal to stop Johnson would be “akin to allowing the Klu Klux Klan to openly convey their racist and anti-immigration views at the Cinco de Mayo festival.” Guess what? They DO. No matter how much you hate the very idea,free speech is still a RIGHT in this country. Where the hell do the homos get their lawyers from,"2 Whatevers what iz lawyurs" out at the local strip mall? Apparently, the District Court agreed with Johnson, for it refused the restraining order and ruled not only would the Board not violate the festival’s rights by allowing Johnson to distribute Bibles, but also granting the Twin Cities Pride injunction would, in fact, violate Johnson’s First Amendment rights. Let's have a standing round of applause for the District Court! The District Court did suggest in a footnote, however, that Twin Cities Pride could set up “free speech zones,” a suggestion that the organization promptly jumped upon. That does NOT mean these "zones" should be in Kansas,though. It was clearly implied it should be at the site itself. In May 2011, the Board – without Johnson’s input – settled the Twin Cities Pride lawsuit by agreeing to allow two concessions: First, the event organizers could restrict any unauthorized literature "UNAUTHORIZED literature"? Are you bleeping kidding me? Point 1: If it has to be authorized,IT IS NOT FREE SPEECH IT IS APPROVED SPEECH! Point 2: Since when is literatore NOT considered to be a form of Free Speech that the government cannot restrict? distribution to an unmanned giveaway table within the festival, Nope,can't do that any more than they can ban advertising. Or even guarding private property (the literature) against vandalization,since if no one is there to keep a eye on the literature,what is to prevent someone (or even somemanies) from grabbing whole handfuls of the literature and just throwing it away? After all,the literature IS private property right up to the point it is given away,and one of our most fundamental rights is the right to possess and distribute private property. So is PROTECTING private property from theft. Twin Cities Pride promptly publicized the “free speech zone” as a “no pride zone” and designated its spot. LOL! While I do appreciate the play on words,I hope he sues the hell out of them for slander. PEOPLE can make these observations,NOT the branches of government we call "cities". The net effect of the settlement, Johnson’s suit claims, is not only the banishment of Bible distribution from the event, but also exile for those that would speak of Jesus. And he is exactly right. I wonder if the Politically Correct City of Minneapolis would consider banning Islam from a public event? Somehow I don't think so. and second, Twin Cities Pride could establish a “free speech zone” for booths whose message was rejected by event organizers.
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
I didn't know you are a Muslim. When did you convert?
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
I didn't know you are a Muslim. When did you convert? Her father must have really sucked to raise a freak. Maybe you can convince her father to kill her for shaming the family?
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
Ok,so do the homos want to get treated like everybody else,or not?
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
For a definitive answer, you'd have to poll them.
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
I didn't know you are a Muslim. Did I say that? I'm sorry. I was just kidding.
According to scripture, "gays" are an abomination and they are all going to HELL. There, fixed it for you whore. Why are you such a whore for TYRANNY as long as it's called libTURDISM? Why WHORE?
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
Thanks,but I'm going to have to pass. You might ask Yu-Tard if he is interested in poling any of them,though. BTW,it's good to see you come out and admit that you don't care if some American citizens get special rights and privileges that are denied to other US citizens.
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
Sometimes it is good to clarify things.
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
Sure, I did that just like the city of Minneapolis banished Bibles for gay fest - not.
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
According to scripture, "gays" are an abomination and they are all going to HELL. What you fail to realize is that to the left the Mn Red Star Tribune IS "the scriptures". There, fixed it for you whore. Why do you feel the need to do that? She is a airhead leftist that is almost never right about anything,but that doesn't mean she is a whore. Plus she is generally polite and doesn't call you or anyone else viscous names. I know you are going to flame me for this,but doing stuff like that makes you look more ignorant than her.
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
. I'm deeply touched by your concern for "how I look". These whores hate you and me and EVERYTHING we believe in. These whores actually want to destroy this country. These whores want to KILL you and me. I'm WAY past done even trying to be polite to these WHORES. She and her clone are bitter, evil, lying, hypocritical, active 100% whores for TYRANNY, whenever TYRANNY is called "progressive" or libTURDISM. I'm just being FACTUAL. It may come as a surprise to you, but TRUTH is an absolute defense. Even for me.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
Speaking specifically about lucysmom,I seriously doubt that she is a whore and I seriously doubt they want to destroy the country or kill either of us. Frankly,it is MY opinion she lives her life with her head in a cloud of cotton candy,and actions don't have consequences where she lives. Yeah,I have zero doubt the leadership of the left wants to destroy the country,and wouldn't hesitate to kill either of us if we were in their way,but the reality is she has about as much in common with people like Soros and Hillary Clinton as Al Gore does with Albert Einstein. It may come as a surprise to you, but TRUTH is an absolute defense. It's no defense at all to people who fail to recognize it. Speaking of which,do you REALLY think it is the truth that she is a whore? I could see doing this in the heat of the moment with some posters that cause you to lose your temper because of personal insults they have thrown your way,but I don't believe she has ever done this.
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
Maybe you are being purposely obtuse for some reason? They are WHORES FOR TYRANNY AS LONG AS YOU CALL THAT TYRANNY libTURDISM. Nowhere do I claim that they are literally street walking whores. It is also not your belief that is important here, she has and I'm not going to get into a simple minded parsing she said he said. This isn't rocket science, it's rhetoric.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
I'm a little anal,and to me words have meanings. If I call some woman a whore,I literally mean she is selling her body unless I write something like "she is a whore for power",which would mean to me that she is selling her soul for power. Nowhere do I claim that they are literally street walking whores. OK,thanks for the clarification.
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
Can't you see that anyone that Mad Dog can ascertain is a woman, and who dares disagrees with him, is going to be called by him a whore? It's the epitome of the conservative world view, no matter how he spins it. I say let him yap away.
Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET
I'm WAY "anal" about words and their use. My use of the word WHORE for them is totally correct in the context that I use it. These two hag clones are not the only WHORES totally for tyranny as long as it's call Progressive or libTURDISM who soil this site. But they are two of the worst. No problem, sorry if there was any confusion.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
Eileen Scallen
#2. To: A K A Stone, *Jack-Booted Thugs* (#0)
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#3. To: A K A Stone (#0)
#4. To: TooConservative (#3)
...if the bible guy isn't airing anti-gay posters or talking anti-gay.
#5. To: lucysmom (#4)
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he's telling gays they're an abomination and going to hell.
Johnson began attending the Pride Fest in 1995, freely offering Bibles and conversation about the love of Jesus Christ and salvation, but never, he says, a message of confrontation or condemnation of homosexuality.
#6. To: lucysmom (#4)
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he's telling gays they're an abomination and going to hell.
#7. To: A K A Stone (#6)
That isn't true as was pointed out to you.
#8. To: lucysmom (#7)
#9. To: A K A Stone (#1)
Through some clever legal wrangling, Twin Cities Pride, the organizers of the annual festival celebrating homosexuality, have convinced the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to allow them to exile anyone attempting to distribute Bibles or communicate unapproved messages at the event to a “no pride zone” far away from the festivities.
#10. To: A K A Stone (#8)
But you can't because you were making stuff up again.
#11. To: lucysmom (#10)
#12. To: A K A Stone (#0)
(Edited)
City banishes Bibles during 'gay' fest .....
#13. To: A K A Stone (#1)
Eileen Scallen What an evil bitch. She deserves to be whipped with a chain.
#14. To: A K A Stone (#1)
Eileen Scallen What an evil bitch. She deserves to be whipped with a chain.
#15. To: lucysmom (#4)
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he's telling gays they're an abomination and going to hell.
#16. To: sneakypete (#15)
Ok,so do the homos want to get treated like everybody else,or not?
#17. To: sneakypete (#13)
Eileen Scallen What an evil bitch. She deserves to be whipped with a chain.
#18. To: lucysmom, TooConservative (#4)
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he's telling gays they're an abomination and going to hell.
#19. To: lucysmom (#16)
For a definitive answer, you'd have to poll them.
#20. To: A K A Stone (#17)
Did I say that? I'm sorry. I was just kidding.
#21. To: sneakypete (#19)
BTW,it's good to see you come out and admit that you don't care if some American citizens get special rights and privileges that are denied to other US citizens.
#22. To: Mad Dog (#18)
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he's telling gays they're an abomination and going to hell.
#23. To: sneakypete (#22)
#24. To: Mad Dog (#23)
These whores hate you and me and EVERYTHING we believe in. These whores actually want to destroy this country. These whores want to KILL you and me.
#25. To: sneakypete (#24)
Speaking of which,do you REALLY think it is the truth that she is a whore? I could see doing this in the heat of the moment with some posters that cause you to lose your temper because of personal insults they have thrown your way,but I don't believe she has ever done this.
#26. To: Mad Dog (#25)
Maybe you are being purposely obtuse for some reason?
#27. To: sneakypete (#26)
I'm a little anal,and to me words have meanings. If I call some woman a whore,I literally mean she is selling her body unless I write something like "she is a whore for power",which would mean to me that she is selling her soul for power.
#28. To: sneakypete (#26)
I'm a little anal,and to me words have meanings. If I call some woman a whore,I literally mean she is selling her body unless I write something like "she is a whore for power",which would mean to me that she is selling her soul for power.
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