A man was detained while peacefully opposing a “pride” celebration in Reading, Pennsylvania. Damon Atkins was quietly carrying a placard with a Bible verse when he was caught.
Charlie Kirk, the organization’s founder, posted a video of a fellow citizen being detained for exercising their First Amendment rights. The filmmaker, who was shocked by the occurrence, shouted, “I cannot believe I’m watching this.” Watch the terrifying video and experience the shock that many Americans feel.
Join the equality movement! The inaugural Reading Pride event took place on Saturday, attracting a spirited gathering to City Hall. In support of the LGBTQ+ community and with Mayor Eddie Moran’s formal backing, attendees marched and held rallies. Don’t pass up the chance to participate in history!
John Atkins came at City Hall at 10 a.m. to express his own convictions in front of the general public. He was detained for peacefully expressing his First Amendment rights within a minute. Although the policeman informed him that the sidewalk was public property, the officer only said, “Well then respect it.” Regarding our rights to free expression and peaceful assembly, this occurrence raises certain concerns.
Atkins responded, “Oh, I’m respecting it.”
The cop went on, “Let them have their day and respect them.”
Atkins showed his politeness.
Atkins was about to begin reciting a rhyme when the officer abruptly cut him short and said, “That’s it.” Atkins was quickly placed in handcuffs and taken into custody.
Immediately after saying a Bible phrase on a publicly sponsored sidewalk, a man was detained and taken into custody.
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Fortunately, Reading, Pennsylvania native Matthew Wear captured every moment of the event on camera. Wear told The Lancaster Patriot that the same police officer had restrained him in his interview. He said that the officer who detained Atkins urged him to cease preaching before Atkins arrived. When Atkins spoke with the Lancaster Patriot, “he was going to quote a portion of 1 Corinthians 14:33 – “God is not the author of confusion” – but did not finish because he stopped when he was handcuffed by McClure.”
While Wear and Atkins were photographing an event across from city hall, Sergeant Bradley T. McClure approached them. Before starting to shoot, Wear first tried to preach for 12 minutes.
According to Sergeant McClure’s affidavit, “[Atkins] was carrying a sign with a slogan written on it that showed his opposition to the event.” In contrast, Atkins is seen in the camera footage holding a placard that reads simply, “Jesus said go and sin no more.”
Atkins allegedly “began to yell to the people” gathered across the street for the event, according to McClure’s claims in his affidavit.
“I immediately approached him and told him that, while he was free to stand on that side of the street and hold his sign,” McClure’s testimony said, “he could not cross the street nor yell comments intended to disrupt the event.”
The assertion made by McClure that Atkins agreed to remain silent is inconsistent with the video footage, which calls into question that testimony. But Atkins is telling the truth when he says he never entered into such a contract.
