An evangelist convicted of federal crimes for preaching on a public sidewalk in front of the Liberty Bell is appealing his case.
Repent America director Michael Marcavage was sentenced to a year's probation and fined by a federal magistrate for refusing to leave a public sidewalk near where the Liberty Bell is on display outside Independence Hall. Marcavage is now appealing the conviction for "obstructing agency operations" to the U.S. District Court. "We weren't obstructing anyone. In fact, the government even stipulated, during the trial, that we were not obstructing or blocking anyone and that I was not acting disorderly. So there's no reasonable explanation other than the fact that they wanted us to go to this 'free-speech zone,'" Marcavage explains. That zone is an area away from pedestrian traffic, apparently designed to keep protesters and others with a message from communicating with the general public. "There were other people on that same sidewalk who were walking freely, who were expressing themselves, who were raising awareness about breast cancer. There were other political signs and activities that took place on that same sidewalk not that long after that. So, what we have here is the government not approving of [our] message and, therefore, making every effort they can to silence it," Marcavage contends. The Christian activist believes it is important to fight this battle in order to protect the civil liberties of all Americans, even those who may disagree with the gospel message. "In the birthplace of American freedom, at the site of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, people now do not have a right to stand on a public sidewalk and express their beliefs – in this particular case, the gospel of Jesus Christ. And if [the authorities] can shut down the gospel from being preached, they can shut down any message," Marcavage adds. If Marcavage is unsuccessful in his appeals through the criminal courts, he plans to bring a civil rights lawsuit against the government.
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