The Arrest

Rev Patrick Mahoney is arrested for quietly reading scripture and praying in a public space in Washington, DC.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Washington DC
• Abortion
• Patrick Mahoney
• Planned Parenthood
• Christian Defense Coalition
• Prayer

[SpiroEx]

rjstrange: Until a crime is commited a person cannot be arrested. If someone said 'I'm going to trespass on private property" you couldn't arrest him for just stating his intent - you'd have to wait for him to do it. The state had wrongly identified the (illegal) enclosure as private property. The police were acting as an arm of the State. I would be more concerned if they had arrested him on the sidewalk which is uncontested public property. But putting a fence round land doesn't make it yours.

[babyerika07]

that's messed up, now it's a crime to pray in public ?

[emeraldinspirations]

@crystaljackel No Planned Parenthood doesn't own that property, the sign was placed up by them, but they had no legal backing for it. In-fact, due to Pat Mahoney's actions, the courts clarified this issue, and I was one of the hundreds who prayed openly on that very same side walk in this years March for Life. Thank you Pat Mahoney!

[crystaljackel]

I'm confused. Doesn't PP own everything inside the gate making it private? I'm totally for this, but I'm unsure of the legal aspect of this. There was a private property sign on the gate and he crossed it? the video is unclear and a little confusing

[joshuamiller79]

So I guess the claim is being made that the area where he was arrested is actually public property so that would invalidate the no trespassing sign?

[Gakerly]

i'm all for what you're doing...but the sign says "private property". it's not public...soooo ya. not the smartest move.

[kempo101]

ps we own planned parenthood look it up

[ClarkKasheta]

One Nation, under Obama...

[GodsGalaxy]

So much for change and free speech in America.

[peterack]

@thingsthatshine I disagree...society does not want to insult muslims - they'd give him a pass...though neither of us can really prove anyting. Interestingly enough (or not) I heard from the arrested clergy in the video...Planned Parenthood put up "no tresspassing/private property" signs on public property so he was not really tresspassing, which is in part why he went past the false barfier. Again I will bet, and would love to prove...the same result would not be granted to a muslim.