Guilty On Both Counts

Guilty On Both Counts
From RescuePittsburgh.com
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2007

A district magistrate found Joseph Parente, Director of Rescue Pittsburgh, guilty of Disorderly Conduct (PA 18 5503) and violating the City of Pittsburgh's Noise Control ordinance (601.04) on Tuesday morning, February 27th, 2007.

The charges stemmed from an incident Saturday, February 24th, 2007 when Parente used a portable sound system to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and plead with mom's and dad's not to kill their children outside of Planned Parenthood/Women's Health Services at 933 Liberty Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Parente was warned to stop using the system unless he had a permit, but continued and was subsequently arrested.

Rescue Pittsburgh contends that the language found in the noise control ordinance does not apply to the use of the sound system for preaching, and the continued harassment by police is a violation of the freedoms of religion and speech afforded by the Constitution of the United States of America , and of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The decision will be appealed to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.