'Jesus Has Taught Me To Love My Neighbor': Christian Who Was Arrested For Quoting Scripture At Pride Event Speaks Out, Possible Lawsuit Pending After Charges Dropped

A Pennsylvania man, identified as Damon Atkins, who was arrested last weekend because he held a protest sign saying "Jesus said sin no more" and quoted Bible scripture to Pride Rally attendees, has had all charges against him dropped according to reports released Thursday.

According to The Blaze, a Tuesday Facebook post from the Berks County district attorney explained, "After a review of the incident which took place on June 3, 2023, in the 800 block of Washington Street in the City of Reading, the District Attorney’s Office has withdrawn the charges of disorderly conduct filed against Damon Atkins." The DA's office continued, "The charges were withdrawn after the District Attorney’s Office reviewed the videos of the incident along with applicable case law."

A local publication, The Lancaster Patriot, spoke with Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach via email who said, "Based on the review of the evidence and the law the Berks County DA withdrew the charges today against Damon Atkins.” 

 

Police Corruption! Christian Arrested in PA for Preaching These Three Words at Pride Event: ‘God is Not-‘https://t.co/Z2aTDGpxxh pic.twitter.com/055y86Ubyl

— Protestia (@Protestia) June 4, 2023

Leinbach reportedly told the outlet in an earlier email that the arrest could lead to potential legal action against the police department and the city. He added, "From what I have seen thus far I believe this was an unlawful arrest and could open the City of Reading and their police department to legal action." The outlet reported that the event was filmed by Matthew Wear of Reading, PA, and posted to YouTube. It quickly went viral.

Twitter user Protestia suggested Atkins "Get a lawyer, lawsuit, and make bank."
 

pic.twitter.com/IDEmyeRQSs

— Protestia (@Protestia) June 6, 2023

According to a police affidavit obtained by the outlet, the arresting officer stated that Atkins "began to yell to people."
 

“I immediately approached him and told him that, while he was free to stand on that side of the street and hold his sign, he could not cross the street nor yell comments intended to disrupt the event," the officer alleged in the affidavit.

On Monday, Atkins spoke with The Lancaster Patriot, and explained that he went to the event because Jesus Christ had changed him and he wanted to share that with others.
 

“The main reason I was there was because of love,” he said. “Because Jesus has taught me to love my neighbor as myself.”

He added that at an event earlier in the week a man had approached him, threatening, “If I had a gun, I would shoot you in the head.” Atkins added that the biblical message of repentance is considered 'hateful' because it doesn't encourage the sinfulness being celebrated by our culture.

“What is love?" he asked. "Is that love that your pastor tells you that you can be a homosexual and enter the kingdom of God? That’s not love.”

“Now in this country, ‘God’ is a derogatory term,” he told the outlet. “That makes me sick to my stomach.”

Atkins was reportedly due in court on June 16th and said he hoped the Alliance Defending Freedom would represent him, according to The Patriot, however, that seems to no longer be necessary. “It’s all going to be sorted out in the end,” he concluded. 

https://youtu.be/NXbzrxEuL54

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