By Allie Martin
August 10, 2006

(AgapePress) - A jury continues to hear evidence in a civil rights lawsuit filed by a Christian activist group against the City of Philadelphia.

The suit stems from several instances between 2002 and 2004 when volunteers with the group Repent America were arrested and harassed by police as they were preaching in public. Plaintiffs have already been dealt several setbacks by Judge Patrice Tucker, who eliminated the city as a defendant. However, the actions of several police officers are being considered by the jury. Repent America director Michael Marcavage says officials must be held accountable for violating the First Amendment.

"Throughout our country we are continuing to see the erosion of our civil liberties," says the Repent America spokesman. "What's important is that Christians take the opportunity, when they have it, to challenge the actions of government officials -- especially when the gospel message is shut down. And that's exactly what is happening all across America."

He shares that while police harassed volunteers with Repent America, homosexuals and their supporters were allowed to abuse and taunt Christian activists. Marcavage laments the fact that there have been several setbacks in the court case. He points first to Judge Tucker, who he notes is a Clinton appointee and describes as a "foe" of the First Amendment.

"So we're in a very difficult situation, having her as a judge," he says. "She already successfully eliminated the City of Philadelphia from the lawsuit; she also, under a Rule 50 motion, eliminated a number of other significant claims."

Marcavage shares that recently, police allowed homosexuals to again threaten ministry volunteers as they demonstrated during a pro-homosexual rally in Chicago. (See related article)

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