Friday, February 20, 2009
This is a story I've been following in the news here locally. I'd like to thank Gerald for making me aware of this. Please pray for Pastor Hoye and feel free to leave a comment - Tim
A black pastor was sentenced today to 30 days in prison -- or community service -- and a $1,130 fine for sidewalk counseling outside an abortion clinic in Oakland, Ca. It is the judge's order to stay away from the abortion clinic, however, that Rev. Walter Hoye refuses to accept. "I don't know what they're negotiating, because the sentence has been pronounced," said Dana Cody, Executive Director of Life Legal Defense Foundation, which represents Hoyer. He is currently in a private room with his attorneys. He was sentenced at 1:30 p.m. today, by California's Superior Court, for two misdemeanor counts of approaching clinic patients. This is the first criminal case under an Oakland city ordinance that took effect in January 2008, four months before Hoye's arrest. It prohibits protestors from approaching within eight feet of abortion clinic patients. Hoye, whose Issues4Life organization seeks to stop the abortion of black children, has been walking outside Family Planning Specialists since 2006. "I wasn't expecting to be arrested. We were doing our best to comply with the law," Hoye said. Shortly after the ordinance took effect, Oakland police watched Hoye outside the clinic for an hour, without arresting him. "I had them try to interpret the law for me. The police couldn't interpret it either," he said. "He has the right to stand on the public sidewalk with a sign that says, 'Jesus loves you and your baby, let us help you,'" Cody said earlier this week. Hoye was found innocent of harassing abortion clinic escorts, who kept his sign covered with their own sign, but guilty on two counts of approaching clinic patients. Despite jury and attorney requests, Judge Stuart Hing did not define what "approaching" actually means, Cody said. Jackie Barbic, the abortion clinic's director, did not return a call for comment."We're looking at real, live persecution," Hoye said, in encouraging ordinary citizens to witness the sentencing. "I could have passed out condoms, or even invitations to strip clubs, and it would have been no problem." "I think it's unconstitutional to prevent people from getting healthcare. And he was blocking their way," said Jean Quan, one of the Oakland councilmembers who introduced the ordinance. She hung up on the reporter after being asked to discuss whether the ordinance violated Hoyer's constitutional rights. Black leaders from across the nation planned to join Hoye for the sentencing at 661 Washington St. today, in what Pastor Stephen Broden called non-violent resistance of injustice. Though the prospect of prison scares him at times, Hoye finds comfort in his faith. "I'm facing jail for righteousness' sake," he said on Wednesday. "That's a whole different feeling."
Life Defense is prepared to appeal.
A black pastor was sentenced today to 30 days in prison -- or community service -- and a $1,130 fine for sidewalk counseling outside an abortion clinic in Oakland, Ca. It is the judge's order to stay away from the abortion clinic, however, that Rev. Walter Hoye refuses to accept. "I don't know what they're negotiating, because the sentence has been pronounced," said Dana Cody, Executive Director of Life Legal Defense Foundation, which represents Hoyer. He is currently in a private room with his attorneys. He was sentenced at 1:30 p.m. today, by California's Superior Court, for two misdemeanor counts of approaching clinic patients. This is the first criminal case under an Oakland city ordinance that took effect in January 2008, four months before Hoye's arrest. It prohibits protestors from approaching within eight feet of abortion clinic patients. Hoye, whose Issues4Life organization seeks to stop the abortion of black children, has been walking outside Family Planning Specialists since 2006. "I wasn't expecting to be arrested. We were doing our best to comply with the law," Hoye said. Shortly after the ordinance took effect, Oakland police watched Hoye outside the clinic for an hour, without arresting him. "I had them try to interpret the law for me. The police couldn't interpret it either," he said. "He has the right to stand on the public sidewalk with a sign that says, 'Jesus loves you and your baby, let us help you,'" Cody said earlier this week. Hoye was found innocent of harassing abortion clinic escorts, who kept his sign covered with their own sign, but guilty on two counts of approaching clinic patients. Despite jury and attorney requests, Judge Stuart Hing did not define what "approaching" actually means, Cody said. Jackie Barbic, the abortion clinic's director, did not return a call for comment."We're looking at real, live persecution," Hoye said, in encouraging ordinary citizens to witness the sentencing. "I could have passed out condoms, or even invitations to strip clubs, and it would have been no problem." "I think it's unconstitutional to prevent people from getting healthcare. And he was blocking their way," said Jean Quan, one of the Oakland councilmembers who introduced the ordinance. She hung up on the reporter after being asked to discuss whether the ordinance violated Hoyer's constitutional rights. Black leaders from across the nation planned to join Hoye for the sentencing at 661 Washington St. today, in what Pastor Stephen Broden called non-violent resistance of injustice. Though the prospect of prison scares him at times, Hoye finds comfort in his faith. "I'm facing jail for righteousness' sake," he said on Wednesday. "That's a whole different feeling."
Life Defense is prepared to appeal.
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