Jersey City NJ. Becomes The Latest City To Violate Christian’s Free Speech Rights

We have an epidemic in our country. It is an epidemic of ignorance. Jersey City New Jersey has became the latest city to show signs that they have caught this disease.

Christian’s Evangelizing Called “Inciting Residents” by Jersey City Police Chief

I came across this story on the website NJ.com. It is the story of how members of a church from the suburbs of Jersey City, Wayne NJ, were ticketed for practicing their constitutionally protected 1st amendment rights. The incident took place in Journal Square over the weekend. According to Tom Comey, ( I can’t help but think his last name should be spelled Commie.) ”The individuals issued summonses in this matter traveled to Jersey City from various parts of New Jersey to spread their message and incite many of our residents,” He further added, which sounds like a disclaimer to me, ”We respect and defend the rights of any individuals to gather and protest as long as it is done within the confines of the law,”

Who were these horrible lawbreakers that were inciting the residents?

It was 6 people from the Bread of Life Fellowship in Wayne NJ. It seems that they didn’t get the “City’s permission” to evangelize. Comey said, ”our initial review indicated there were no permits requested or issued” When has it became a requirement to get government permission to exercise our first amendment rights? Talk about ignorance gone to seed!

You can watch the video of this travesty here.

What was so inciting about what these people were saying?

Police Chief Comey would not get specific about what the group was saying that was inciting. The members of the church were baffled as well about this. One member, Robert Parker of Millstone NJ. said that someone actually said “Jesus was the only way to heaven” but stood by the fact that Jesus Himself said that. He further stated ”I’m sure that some people are not going to like that message, but we had people coming up and thanking us for being there. You are always going to find someone who is not going to agree with you.”

The group chose this spot to evangelize because there are a lot of homeless people and people struggling with addictions in that area of Jersey City.

Parker claims that a police officer approached the group angrily and aggresively saying they couldn’t be here, that they needed a permit. The person who was videotaping the incident was then told to stop. Shortly afterwards, a Police supervisor and 5 more cops arrived on the scene. ( This makes 1 supervisor, 7 cops, and 6 church members. Does this sound like overkill to you?)

Police Chief Comey stated that based on the preliminary evidence, that the actions of these 7 Police Officers ”were within the scope of their responsibilities and proper at the time.”

I must ask, when is it within the scope of a police officer’s duty to violate the first amendment of the constitution?

That is why I started this story with the statement that there is an epidemic of ignorance within this country. City councils, police bureau’s and zoning commissions are all ignorant of their limitations under the first amendment of the constitution. In fact, the police officers and Jersey City have broken the law! They are the true lawbreakers in this situation.

Once again I am outraged. Are you?

Pastor Duke