Newman delivers keys to newly outfitted Truth Truck to African-American Pro-life Group
Atlanta, GA – Gwinnett County Solicitor General Rosanna Szabo announced Monday that the driver of Operation Rescue’s Truth Truck, Bob Roethisberger, who was arrested and jailed over Thanksgiving weekend will not be facing charges.
Szabo stated that the display of the graphic photos of aborted babies depicted on the Truth Truck banners , “as shocking and offensive as they are – does not constitute ‘obscene and vulgar or profane language‘ (emphasis in original) as specifically prohibited by this statute.”
Cpl. Illana Spellman, spokesperson for the Gwinnett County Police Department confirmed to reporters Monday that “right now we’re suspending arrests of that nature.”
“Apparently Ms. Szabo found the letter from our attorney instructional. The law is clear. This was really the only decision that could responsibly be made,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “We thank the American Center for Law and Justice for their excellent work on this case, and look forward to exercising our free speech rights in Georgia without further impediment.”
“However, there are still the unresolved matters of the destruction of thousands of dollars of signs by the police and four days that our driver unjustly spent in jail. We are weighing our legal options at this time,” said Newman.
Meanwhile, the Truth Truck has been newly refitted with signs similar to those destroyed by police.
Newman presented the keys to the Truth Truck to Bishop Donald Q. Fozard of Mount Zion Christian Church in Durham, North Carolina, during the national Life Education and Resource Network (L.E.A.R.N.) Summit for Life held in Atlanta over the weekend. L.E.A.R.N. is the largest African-American pro-life group in the nation. They work to educate their community about the decimation of the African-American population by abortion.
“We know that this Truth Truck is going to be powerfully used by this group to save lives and educate the public, especially the African-American community, about the tragedy of abortion. We are excited to see the great things that will be accomplished for life by L.E.A.R.N.’s Bishop Fozard and his amazing group.”
Just goes to show that there’s really very little difference between the Germany of the 1930’s and the USA of the 2000’s when it comes to erosion of personal liberties.
Clearly, in our morally-compromised America, you’re guaranteed 1st Amendment rights so long as you advocate killing the unborn. If not, all bets are off. Witness the abortion lobby’s storm troopers, a.k.a., the Gwinnett County Police.
Praise God!!!!
So a liberal can burn a flag and call it free speech and prolifers can’t show the truth about abortion? So happy this was turned around, it shows that this country isn’t completely lost!
Keep praying for this country and things will get better with faith!!!
John, good point. And notice that Szabo still had to get a dig in with her comment. They know they have no leg to stand on. But if they had even the slightest possibility of getting away with censoring this, in my opinion they would go for it.
As to your comment about the USA of the 2000s compared to Germany of the 1930s, I agree. I was starting to think about that when the government gave the death penalty to Terri Schiavo for being an “inconvenience.” And then on top of that they arrested a child for trying to give a thirsty woman a drink of water.
November 29, 2007
Walnut Creek, California
Dear Chief Charles M. Walters:
I pray that you will dismiss the charges against Mr. Roethlisberger, and see that costs of repairs to the signs are paid. Also, please issue a formal apology for this great error, and see that Major Bardugon
and the officers under his command are disciplined appropriately.
The criminal activity in this case is the murder of children….by no means is it the offense of public
sensibilities and obscene, disorderly conduct on
Robert’s part. The “disorderly conduct” was on the part
of the police….sworn to uphold the Constitution of Georgia and that of our federal union.
The unwarranted, unconstitutional actions of your
department, in this case, are an insult to the Bible-
understanding, Law-loving citizens of Gwinnett County.
They constitute treason against God, and demonstrate
clear hatred towards Him, as well as clear ignorance or willful misunderstanding of His immutable Law. He is
just….He is the Supreme Judge over all magistrates,
ministers, and judges. Not to ignore the Executive
Power, He also is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Sir, If immediate, whole-hearted repentance is not demonstrated, a County-wide movement for your
removal from office will be started. Your office “of
honor, Trust or Profit,” under Gwinnett County and the
sovereign State of Georgia (quoting from an applicable
portion of our national Constitution…Article I , Section
3, Paragraph 7) is in jeopardy.
As an Officer and a Southern Gentleman, I must say
that God, your fellow County citizens, other Georgians,
and informed citizens across this “Heaven-blessed
land” are ashamed of you. If your Mother and
Grandmother are still living, their tears, God’s tears,
and ours, truly are mingled in sorrow that our Country
has come to this.
Earlier generations would have seen you tarred and
feathered, and escorted out of Gwinnett County on a
rail.
We will continue to pray to our Counsellor, Guide, and
Advocate, and will act in accordance with His directions,
which we know He will provide, in this matter. I urge
you to join the winning side here…..you are presently on the wrong side.
Jerry Denham
(925) 937-1405
Nehemiah 2: 17-20 (all references KJV)
Philippians 2: 1-11
Philippians 3: 13 and 14
Hebrews 12
http://www.freedomcoalition.com
Copies of E-Mail sent to:
Operation Rescue, Wichita, Kansas
Entire national list, The Freedom Coalition
Short List of Powerful Missionaries, Prophets,
Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers (Ephesians 4:11)
in the five Atlanta “Metro-Counties”
Operation Rescue you need to sue this Police Department for this false arrest based on nothing but a Pro-Abortion Agenda! If this is so obscene to these folks, maybe they should be joining the Pro-Life movement instead of illegally arresting members of your group!
God Please Bless This Once Great Nation Again!
Suing the jurisdiction and the arresting officer is a must. Clearly, the police were not acting in good faith. Unjustly depriving Roethisberger of his freedom without cause for 4 days (not to mention the destruction of property) is actionable. That is the only language these Stalinists understand. Hit them in the pocketbook with a major lawsuit.
Its amazing what constitutes obscene. The act of abortion is not considered obscene by the libs, but for you to put a picture of what they did is obscene. Thats why the abortion clinics WILL NOT under any circumstance let a abortion ‘customer’ see an ultrasound even if she requests it. What happened to pro-choice? To make a choice you must have the facts. They are afraid of the facts and the truth.
That is why they have to censor organizations like yours and throw your members in prison.
Sue for civil rights violation. This is a clear case, GA is not a liberal area so you will have public support. Send them an excuse else this persecution will continue elsewhere.
Jerry Denham- I hope you don’t mind,but I will be
contacting your organization. I love your views! As a
Christian who believes in God’s laws first and foremost,
it’s great to hear someone who is like-minded ( but
more affluent ). THANK YOU!
Troy- This is the greatest nation in the world. It’s a shame ,that you had ,and are having to “Fight the Good
Fight” , not only for the babies, but for the rest of us
pro-lifers. For taking on GA (and Tiller),et al, a big THANK YOU! I know that the ACLJ will do a great job in this.
Because you fight these injustices, you are making it easier for those of us who sidewalk counsel, do Truth
Tours,etc. to exercise our 1st Amendment Right without
harrassment (or as much). I am seeing a lot of strength
and solidarity in the pro-life movement. Again, it goes back to Troy (and others) who will not tolerate our Constitutional rights to be infringed upon. A police officer
was fired yesterday (I believe) due to his harrassing pro-lifers. I do not believe this would have happened,had Troy not shown that we pro-lifers will not
take this abuse anymore! God Bless You as you press
forward!
So much for proof-reading….OOOOPS…..
Jerry, I meant fluent, not affluent…..
even though that could very well be so!
In Kansas, the state has produced a ‘breast feeding card’ that moms can carry with them when out in public. The card identifies the Kansas statute that permits breast feeding in public places. Perhaps we should construct a first amendment card, which outlines First Amendment rights with examples like the one above. We could pull it out to show cops when they seem to not understand. One would wonder if this could give the police a moment of pause to consider what they are actually doing.
I have followed this case since the onset, this was truly an outragious situation both in the arrest and impounding of the motor vehicle. I strongly urge that Operation Rescue pursue this matter with strong legal action with the Courts of Gwynett County Georgia on both fronts (the arrest) and damage to the vehicle while being held by the authorities (Gwynett County Police Department). Let the Courts make a decision, even if the Court may not award monatary compensation, but, finds that the actions by the Gwynett County Police were unwarranted and are libel, a WIN is a WIN! This is a opportunity that should certainly be not overlooked.