Atlanta Journal-Contitution is reporting that Gwinnett County Police are backing down on threats of arrest

Gwinnett County Police spokesperson Illana Spellman has stated that the police will not be making additional arrests under the same law used in the arrest of Truth Truck driver Bob Roethlisberger, until further they receive further guidence from from prosecutors. (Read the AJC article here.)

The following is a press release issued by the Christian Defense Coalition. Operation Rescue President Troy Newman is available for comment at 316-841-1700.

Free Speech and First Amendment Crushed by Gwinnett County, Georgia Police Department

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /Christian Newswire/ — Christian Defense Coalition condemns the crushing of the First Amendment and free speech by the Gwinnett County, Georgia Police Department.

Last week the Gwinnett County Police arrested a pro- life activist for driving a an Operation Rescue truck with posters showing the graphic results of abortion.

After the arrest, the police ransacked the Operation Rescue truck and tore the posters off damaging the truck.

On Saturday, December 1, the Christian Defense Coalition is joining with Operation Rescue and other pro-life activists in “Free Speech Riders.”

The group plans to drive to the Gwinnett County Police Department, in a similar truck to the one that was detained, and hand deliver a letter to Police Chief Charles Walters demanding an apology, restitution for the damaged truck and a promise to honor and respect free speech and the First Amendment.

The Christian Defense Coalition will join with Operation Rescue at a news conference on Saturday, December 1, at 4:00 P.M. at the Gwinett County Police Department.

That location is 770 Hi Hope Road in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Copies of the letter will be made available along with the graphic abortion posters on the side of the truck.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, comments, “I am stunned that a law enforcement agency would have such utter contempt and disregard for free speech and the First Amendment. The unconstitutional actions of the Gwinett County Police Department amount to a tragic crushing of civil liberties and hearken back to a day of violence and discrimination by police officers. If law enforcement officers can arrest a man because of the content of his message and tear down pictures they do not agree with, then we are in grave danger as a nation and no form of political speech is safe. Every American should be able to express their views free from government interference and harassment.

“I am proud to join with Operation Rescue in this ‘Free Speech Riders.’ By doing so, we join hearts with Americans from a generation ago who traveled down similar highways speaking out against oppression and tyranny.”

For more information or interviews call:
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 202.547.1735 Cell: 540.538.4747

Overland Park, KS – The Kansas City Star is reporting that Planned Parenthood has dropped its plans to file a Mandamus action with the Kansas Supreme Court asking it to block the citizen-called grand jury in Johnson County that is scheduled to begin investigating the abortion business on December 10. This means there are no further hurdles to seating the grand jury as scheduled.

That decision came in light of Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling rejecting a similar action filed by late-term abortionist George Tiller of Wichita, who is also facing a grand jury investigation in Sedgwick County called for through the citizen petition process. That grand jury can now proceed.

“We are celebrating these victories today and are looking forward to seeing justice done, both in Sedgwick and Johnson Counties, through the grand jury process. We finally have some hope that the system is beginning to function as it should,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “Abortionists are not above the law, even though they have been acting that way in Kansas for years. We pray that their day of accountability has finally arrived.”

Topeka, KS – Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland ruled today that the citizen-called grand jury set to investigate late-term abortionist George R. Tiller can move forward.

The grand jury had originally been scheduled to convene on October 30, 2007, but was delayed while the Court considered a Writ of Mandamus filed by Tiller asking for a special exemption from the laws governing the convening of citizen-called grand jury investigations and demanding that the grand jury not be seated.

Justice McFarland stated in her order, “The Court determines that petitioner has not established entitlement to the relief sought and that, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 9.01(e), the petition should be and is hereby denied, and the case is dismissed.”

The ruling comes one day after Operation Rescue filed its second motion in the case. The group had sought to intervene to insure that the Court based its decision on accurate information. That motion has now been dismissed as moot.

“We are very happy that the Kansas Supreme Court has ruled to follow the law and allow the grand jury to move forward,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “This is a victory for the rule of law, for the people of Kansas, and for the late-term pre-born babies that laws have been enacted to protect. As the grand jury investigation of Tiller moves forward, we pray for justice to be done.”

A date for the seating of the grand jury has not yet been set.

The grand jury is being asked to investigate Tiller for conducting illegal late-term abortions over the past 4 years. He already faces 19 criminal charges filed by Attorney General Paul Morrison for violating the Kansas statue that bans abortions on viable babies after 22 weeks gestation.

Read the Kansas Supreme Court Order