Could it happen here? 47 years in prison for peaceful protest? - Dallas Dance Music - Dallas nightlife, music, tickets, and more

Trey Brister · 01-08-05, 12:17 PM

TESTING THE FAITH
17-year-old girl part of 'Philadelphia 5'
Teen 1 of Christians facing charges for protesting homosexuals
Posted: January 7, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Ron Strom

While most of the media have focused on the four adult Christians arrested last year for protesting a homosexual event in Philadelphia, there also is a teenage girl who faces criminal charges for her participation.

Lauren Murch is one of the 11 Christians who were arrested on Oct. 10.

As WorldNetDaily reported, the group was "preaching God's Word" to a crowd of people attending the "OutFest' event and displaying banners with biblical messages.

After a confrontation with a group called the Pink Angels, described by protesters as "a militant mob of homosexuals," the 11 Christians were arrested and taken into custody. All but Lauren spent the night in jail.

Eight charges were filed: criminal conspiracy, possession of instruments of crime, reckless endangerment of another person, ethnic intimidation, riot, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways.

None of the Pink Angels was cited or arrested.

After a preliminary hearing in December, Judge William Austin Meehan ordered four of the adult Christians to stand trial on three felony and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could get a maximum of 47 years in prison.

Lauren, 17, also was ordered to stand trial, but in the juvenile justice system. She faces the same eight counts.

The girl's father, Bruce Evan Murch, says the media and others have effectively left Lauren out of the story by referring to the group as the "Philadelphia 4," even though she, also, faces charges. Murch says the group's local attorneys have not communicated well with him as Lauren missed the December hearing because she knew nothing about it.

Even now, Murch says he is unsure what date Lauren's trial will occur.

"I have nine children, seven boys and two girls from age 6 to 21, all living at home," Murch told WND. "They were all born at home and schooled at home. We got involved in activism in 1989 when I founded an Operation Rescue group. My children have done street ministry with me virtually all of their lives."

Murch has a website entitled Full Quiver Mission.

Lauren attended the OutFest protest without any other family members, Murch says, "though normally we all would have gone to this." He says one or more of his family participates in protests three or four times a year in Philadelphia.

Murch explained that since his wife, Beverly, was diagnosed with uterine cancer last summer, he has "pulled back from active ministry."

According to Murch, after her arrest Lauren was held in a juvenile detention facility for 12 or 13 hours and released to a trusted friend at about 1 a.m. the next morning.

"I am a bit distressed that she seems to have fallen through the cracks," Murch said. "The media claim that charges were dropped against seven people, and it was only six; they state that there are only four with charges still pending, when there are five.

"Lauren's being left out in the cold."

Adam D · 01-08-05, 12:56 PM

What they were doing is stupid, in my opinion, and part of me wants to laugh at them for being arrested.

That aside, even though I disagree specifically with what they were doing I don't think that people should be punished for demonstrating/protesting/etc. simply because it disagrees with what is going on around them.

From a legal standpoint, and I'm not familiar with how Philadephia normally deals with these situations, it might be very normal to charge people with that many offenses for such behavior because they needed some sort of permit to operate as a group there (something else I disagree with, but realize it's part of the law in most places). The right to assemble is, after all, limited by time, place, and manner. If the other groups at OutFest were required to obtain permits, or the event itself required a permit, and they did not have one, then whether anybody agrees with it or not they will ultimately have to suffer the consequences of their decision, as countless other protesters and demonstrators have in the past.

01-08-05, 05:51 PM

As a general rule, sentences for all crimes arising from the same set of operative facts are served concurrently rather than consecuatively. If found guilty of all 8 counts and the longest sentence is 6 years the felon will be required to serve no more than 6 years.

IrishRaver · 01-10-05, 12:35 PM

so...out of curiosity and not to seem stupid...what are the issues that the gay rights activists in this case are protesting..as in can anybody give me a list???

01-08-05, 12:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trey Brister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Mansfield / S. Arlington Area Posts: 535	Could it happen here? 47 years in prison for peaceful protest? TESTING THE FAITH 17-year-old girl part of 'Philadelphia 5' Teen 1 of Christians facing charges for protesting homosexuals Posted: January 7, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern By Ron Strom While most of the media have focused on the four adult Christians arrested last year for protesting a homosexual event in Philadelphia, there also is a teenage girl who faces criminal charges for her participation. Lauren Murch is one of the 11 Christians who were arrested on Oct. 10. As WorldNetDaily reported, the group was "preaching God's Word" to a crowd of people attending the "OutFest' event and displaying banners with biblical messages. After a confrontation with a group called the Pink Angels, described by protesters as "a militant mob of homosexuals," the 11 Christians were arrested and taken into custody. All but Lauren spent the night in jail. Eight charges were filed: criminal conspiracy, possession of instruments of crime, reckless endangerment of another person, ethnic intimidation, riot, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways. None of the Pink Angels was cited or arrested. After a preliminary hearing in December, Judge William Austin Meehan ordered four of the adult Christians to stand trial on three felony and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could get a maximum of 47 years in prison. Lauren, 17, also was ordered to stand trial, but in the juvenile justice system. She faces the same eight counts. The girl's father, Bruce Evan Murch, says the media and others have effectively left Lauren out of the story by referring to the group as the "Philadelphia 4," even though she, also, faces charges. Murch says the group's local attorneys have not communicated well with him as Lauren missed the December hearing because she knew nothing about it. Even now, Murch says he is unsure what date Lauren's trial will occur. "I have nine children, seven boys and two girls from age 6 to 21, all living at home," Murch told WND. "They were all born at home and schooled at home. We got involved in activism in 1989 when I founded an Operation Rescue group. My children have done street ministry with me virtually all of their lives." Murch has a website entitled Full Quiver Mission. Lauren attended the OutFest protest without any other family members, Murch says, "though normally we all would have gone to this." He says one or more of his family participates in protests three or four times a year in Philadelphia. Murch explained that since his wife, Beverly, was diagnosed with uterine cancer last summer, he has "pulled back from active ministry." According to Murch, after her arrest Lauren was held in a juvenile detention facility for 12 or 13 hours and released to a trusted friend at about 1 a.m. the next morning. "I am a bit distressed that she seems to have fallen through the cracks," Murch said. "The media claim that charges were dropped against seven people, and it was only six; they state that there are only four with charges still pending, when there are five. "Lauren's being left out in the cold." __________________ Warm Regards, Trey Brister Nature abhors a vacuum and religion is a powerful civilizing and socializing force. It is not perfect, but at least it does not deny human nature. Most leftest ideology is based upon the idea that evil is the result of social conditions/injustice, and simple misunderstandings. Man's nature is seen as both inherently good and infinitely malleable. It is believed that man can be made into something better through education and other social endeavors. The truth is that human nature is not inherently good and neither is terribly changable. Any system that denies the truth about human nature will be the victim of it. Communism is only one of the more horrific examples of this fundamental truth. I understand why you're a socialist. You want to make the world a better place. What you need to understand is that not everyone can be helped and those who can are best served by providing them with the opportunity to help themselves.

01-08-05, 12:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Adam D Feline Leukemia Survivor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Law School Posts: 7,755	What they were doing is stupid, in my opinion, and part of me wants to laugh at them for being arrested. That aside, even though I disagree specifically with what they were doing I don't think that people should be punished for demonstrating/protesting/etc. simply because it disagrees with what is going on around them. From a legal standpoint, and I'm not familiar with how Philadephia normally deals with these situations, it might be very normal to charge people with that many offenses for such behavior because they needed some sort of permit to operate as a group there (something else I disagree with, but realize it's part of the law in most places). The right to assemble is, after all, limited by time, place, and manner. If the other groups at OutFest were required to obtain permits, or the event itself required a permit, and they did not have one, then whether anybody agrees with it or not they will ultimately have to suffer the consequences of their decision, as countless other protesters and demonstrators have in the past. __________________ This is my signature.

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01-08-05, 05:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
xiannaix Guest Posts: n/a	As a general rule, sentences for all crimes arising from the same set of operative facts are served concurrently rather than consecuatively. If found guilty of all 8 counts and the longest sentence is 6 years the felon will be required to serve no more than 6 years.

01-10-05, 12:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
IrishRaver Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dallas...ish Posts: 342	so...out of curiosity and not to seem stupid...what are the issues that the gay rights activists in this case are protesting..as in can anybody give me a list???