Update: Charges Against Street Preacher Arrested at Pride Rally Dropped
Damon Atkins, the Christian street preacher arrested for sharing the gospel and the Bible at a Pride rally in Reading, Pennsylvania, as soon as he arrived, will not appear in court, as the criminal charges have been dropped by the district attorney.
Atkins confirmed to CBN’s Faithwire the charges have been dropped, adding, “Praise the Lord and glory to God and our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of Nazareth!” via text message. Atkins also noted he is “so thankful so many people have seen the GO AND SIN NO MORE sign.”
A statement from the district attorney in Berks County read, “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place on June 3, 2023, in the 800 block of Washington Street in the City of Reading, the district attorney’s office has withdrawn the charges of disorderly conduct filed against Damon Atkins.”
According to The Lancaster Patriot, County Commissioner Christian Leinbach said after reviewing the video, recorded by local resident and Christian Matthew Wear, “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.”
In his video, Wear explained that, before he began filming, he shared the gospel and was warned by the officer he would be arrested. Wear rightly predicts, on video, the same officer who warned him would give Atkins “a hard time.”
CBN’s Faithwire requested comment from the Reading Police Department, which has a direct hotline to a “LGBTQ Liaison” listed among their contacts. That contact number, however, has since been deleted.
The department has not responded to a request for comment.
For the rest of this story, visit our content partners at Faithwire. {eoa}
Reprinted with permission from cbn.com. Copyright © 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network Inc. All rights reserved.
