Repent America Denounces Arrest of Christians in New Orleans

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Calls Upon Department of Justice to Intervene Immediately

PHILADELPHIA —  Following the recent arrest of six Christians for engaging in evangelistic activity after sunset in New Orleans, Louisiana, Repent America is denouncing city officials for its attempts to silence the Gospel, and is calling upon the Department of Justice to immediately intervene in protecting the First Amendment rights of citizens. 

 

 

Friday night, Pastor Troy Bohn of Raven Ministries and five other Christians were taken into custody for violating the city’s “Aggressive Solicitation” ordinance while sharing the Gospel on the 500 block of Bourbon Street. The statute, which was enacted in an effort to curb the aggressive solicitation of donations in the popular section of the French Quarter, also contains a prohibition against political and religious speech after sunset. 

 

 

 

“It shall be prohibited for any person or group of persons to loiter or congregate on Bourbon Street for the purpose of disseminating any social, political or religious message between the hours of sunset and sunrise,” the ordinance outlines.On a typical Friday night, thousands gather on Bourbon Street, which is one of the most notorious sections of the city. The area is most known for its preponderance of bars and strip clubs, and is a tourist attraction during events like Mardis Gras and the Southern Decadence Festival, which are marked by drunkenness and lewd behavior.

 

While Bohn and his team were sharing the Gospel with the large crowds last week, a sergeant approached and advised that they were in violation of the city’s “Aggressive Solicitation” ordinance and were all under arrest. They were led to the 8th Precinct headquarters, where three of the men were issued citations. The Christians must now appear in court to fight the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of a $500 fine and six months imprisonment.

 

Christian News Network, a ministry of Repent America, covered the story in full. Click here to read the article in its entirety.

 

Last month, nine individuals not affiliated with Bohn’s ministry were also arrested for violating the ordinance after they continued speaking and holding signs after sunset during the city’s Southern Decadence Festival. Six other Christians were kicked off Bourbon Street the same night and threatened with arrest. Bohn’s son-in-law is also facing charges for a separate incident.

 

“New Orleans’ ‘Aggressive Solicitation’ ordinance is not only unconstitutional, but unGodly, as it is nothing less than an attempt to silence the public proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is being used as a tool to protect wickedness and criminalize righteousness,” Repent America director Michael Marcavage stated. “New Orleans, which has seen great suffering, remains a city full of lawlessness, and is now targeting the messengers of mercy that God has sent into its streets. God is patient, but His judgments are sure.”

 

Marcavage himself has been arrested under ordinances that criminalize Christianity. In 2004, Marcavage and ten others known as “the Philadelphia 11” were arrested while ministering to attendees at a popular homosexual festival known as OutFest. After being jailed for 21 hours, Marcavage and the others, which included two grandmothers and a minor, were charged under Pennsylvania’s “hate crimes” law called “ethnic intimidation.” They were also leveled with a host of other bogus felony and misdemeanor charges, including “criminal conspiracy” and “possession of an instrument of crime,” and each faced a possible sentence of up to 47 years in prison, along with a $90,000 fine.
Months later, “the Philadelphia 11” were vindicated on all counts, and in 2008 they succeeded in their legal challenge to have Pennsylvania’s “hate crimes” law struck down as being unconstitutional.

 

Repent America is sending a letter to the United States Department of Justice to request that the government intervene by halting the unlawful actions of the City of New Orleans. The New Orleans FBI has been contacted about the situation and has stated that they have received calls from a number of concerned citizens. 

“We are calling upon the Department of Justice to bring relief to the Christians that are being oppressed by the tyrannical actions of the City of New Orleans under this Orwellian ordinance,” Marcavage stated. “The Church must raise its voice against this great injustice and urge the city to turn from its persecution of Christians. Without Christ, New Orleans will have no hope.”

  

“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?” – Psalms 94:20

A CALL TO ACTION: Will you take a stand for the Gospel by requesting an official investigation into the unlawful actions of the City of New Orleans? Here’s how you can help! 
 
1) Contact the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to express your concerns and request immediate intervention. Email Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez at tom.perez@usdoj.gov and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Roy Austin at roy.austin@usdoj.gov You may also call 202-514-2151 to make a complaint. 
 
2) Contact the New Orleans FBI and urge them to end the systematic persecution of Christians in New Orleans by calling 504-816-3000 or email Neworleans@ic.fbi.gov
Sample Text: “I am writing to express my concerns regarding the recent arrest of six Christians in New Orleans, Louisiana. The City of New Orleans is using their ‘Aggressive Solicitation’ ordinance to revoke the core constitutional rights of citizens, and is putting those who dare to engage in the free exercise of religion behind bars. I ask that you immediately investigate these arrests and that the DOJ would intervene by coming to the aid of the Christians who are being prosecuted for doing nothing more than sharing their faith on Bourbon Street after sunset.”
About Repent America

Repent America (RA) is an evangelistic organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which zealously labors to further the Kingdom of God through Biblical evangelism. RA is a small operation with a BIG mission as it reaches out to tens of thousands of people each month with the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Whether it be the public proclamation of the Gospel message (Romans 10:14-15), opening thy mouth for the voiceless (Proverbs 31:8-9), preaching to the poor and comforting the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18), warning the wicked of their way (Ezekiel 33:8-9), or working to preserve our liberties to do so, Repent America continues to “fight the good fight of faith.” (1 Timothy 6:12) Please join in the fight with us by clicking hereto make a donation to keep us on the streets as we continue to impact America with the truth of God’s Word!

 

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