Charges against Damon Atkins, a street preacher, have been dismissed following his arrest at an LGBTQ Pride event in Reading, Pennsylvania. Atkins was arrested on June 6th for "disorderly conduct, engaged in fighting," but the Berks County District Attorney's Office dropped the charges after reviewing video evidence of the incident. Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach had previously questioned the legality of the arrest.
A video of the encounter, recorded by Reading resident Matthew Wear, shows Atkins conversing with Sergeant Bradley McClure while quoting Bible verses to event attendees, which reportedly included drag queens and children. The exchange took place on public property, with Atkins emphasizing this point to McClure. The video captures Atkins exclaiming "God cares!" to which McClure responded, "Let them have their day." The officer then advised Atkins to respect the attendees. Atkins, holding a sign reading "Jesus said go and sin no more," insisted he was being respectful. The situation escalated as Atkins remarked about people "cheering for us" from hell, a reference to a biblical parable. When Atkins attempted to cite another verse, McClure arrested him for disorderly conduct.
Attendees at a Pride Parade. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
A generic image of a Pride flag. (iStock)
A Bible and American flag. (iStock)
Derek Reimer, a pastor who has been arrested for protesting LGBTQ events. (Courtesy Nathaniel Pawlowski)
Reading City Hall in Pennsylvania. (Google Street View/Google Maps)
The police affidavit states that Atkins was warned against yelling disruptive comments after initially agreeing to remain peaceful. A Reading Police Department officer suggested there was a longer interaction between Atkins and the officer prior to the video recording. In a subsequent interview, Atkins explained his "hell" comment, referencing a parable from the Bible. He also expressed love for his neighbors and denied hating anyone.
