Pennsylvania police later dropped charges after arresting a street preacher who recited Bible verses at a Pride event earlier this month.
Damon Atkins, a self-professing Christian “street preacher,” was arrested for disorderly conduct during an LGBTQ Pride event. The Berks County District Attorney’s Office reviewed video evidence and determined that the charges were unwarranted.
The encounter between Atkins and the police officer, Sgt. Bradley McClure, was captured on video by Matthew Wear, a resident of Reading.
In the footage, Atkins can be seen citing Bible verses to the attendees of the event, including drag queens and children. He asserts that he has the right to be on public property and engages in a back-and-forth with Sgt. McClure.
Atkins is also seen holding a sign that reads “Jesus said go and sin no more” while expressing his views.
“Let them have their day. Respect it,” an officer told him in the video, according to the Daily Caller.
“You know who’s cheering for us? The people that are in hell,” Atkins responded.
During the incident, Atkins attempted to cite 1 Corinthians 14:33, emphasizing that God is not the author of confusion but of peace. However, he was interrupted by the officer before completing the verse. The officer’s affidavit states that Atkins had been warned about crossing the street and making disruptive comments.
While the video of the arrest sparked controversy, an officer from the Reading Police Department mentioned that there was a significant interaction between Atkins and the officer before the recorded incident took place, suggesting that there was more to the story.
The arrest had drawn criticism from the Berks County commissioner, who deemed it potentially unlawful and warned of potential legal action against the City of Reading and its police department.
“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place on June 3, 2023, in the 800 block of Washington Street in the City of Reading, the District Attorney’s Office has withdrawn the charges of disorderly conduct filed against Damon Atkins. The charges were withdrawn after the District Attorney’s Office reviewed the videos of the incident along with applicable case law,” the Berks County District Attorney’s office said in a statement posted on Facebook.
