OPBC Street Preachers Actions against University of Minnesota Peace Officer who acted unlawfully

April 18, 2015 encounter with unlawful police officer in Dinkeytown, Minnesota and subsequent actions by the offended parties

Jerald Finney
October 30, 2015

Note the 103114 Update below

DinkytownThe actions chronicled in this article were made necessary by the unlawful actions of a University of Minnesota police officer. See the bias, arrogance, abuse, and lack of legal knowledge of the peace officer at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh4h8q_WbkY.

Freedom of speech as guaranteed by the United States Constitution, First Amendment, the Minnesota Constitution, and the city of Minneapolis Charter and Code of Ordinances is especially important in this situation. To understand why, go to Luciferianism, Enochian Magick, Aliester Crowley & Dinkytown Witches.

Preaching to Satanists in Dinkeytown on October 31, 2015. Click image to go to the Youtube video.
Preaching to Satanists in Dinkeytown on October 31, 2015. Click image to go to the Youtube video.

On April 18, 2015, OPBC men went to Minneapolis MN to preach in the public forum. Some were assaulted. A peace officer came and told them to leave in 5 minutes or be arrested, thereby violating their civil rights (First Amendment speech rights). The men of  OPBC understand the limits of the law concerning street preaching; they know that freedom of speech does not allow them to criminal trespass, obstruct highways, passageways, and doorways, to assault anyone, etc. But they also know that their speech cannot be suppressed by the police or anyone else based upon false pretext. The law on this is available on various resources linked to on this site. See, e.g., other information on this webpage, Tract, Street Preaching in America: Is it Legal?; For greater understanding of the free speech rights of Americans in the public forum click left click here and read the brief of Jerald Finney in the Steve Drake case; or the October 28, 2015 United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit case, Bible Believers vs. WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN; BENNY N. NAPOLEON, in his official capacity as Sheriff, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office; DENNIS RICHARDSON, individually and in his official capacity as Deputy Chief, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office; MIKE JAAFAR, individually and in his official capacity as Deputy Chief, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office (this case answers all questions in favor of the street preachers of Old Paths Baptist Church, and repeats long-standing First Amendment law.)

Old Paths Baptist Church will make a sincere effort to handle this matter without the need for court intervention. The men of OPBC will be returning to street preach at Dinkeytown and want to make sure the officers know the law so that they can properly perform their duties according to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Minnesota. OPBC does not want to cause unnecessary expense to individual police officers, the University of Minnesota Police Department, the mayor and city council of Minneapolis, and the taxpayers of the city of Minneapolis. If court action is necessary, attorneys licensed in Minnesota are ready to handle the case.

As of April 18, 2015 at 9:55 p.m., e-mails have been sent to Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges, Minneapolis City Attorney, and Chief of Police Junee Harteau. The e-mail to the city attorney (the other e-mails were modified for the particular office) stated as follows (in red):

041815
From Jerald Finney
jerald.finney@sbcglobal.net
512-785-8445

RE: Violation of Civil Rights of Street Preachers by Minneapolis Police

To City Attorney of Minneapolis, MN.:

I am writing this note as a member of and on behalf of men whose civil rights were blatantly violated by the Minneapolis Police on April 18, 2014. The men are members of the church I also belong to, Old Paths Baptist Church in Northfield, MN. I write this as a member of the church, not as a legal representative at this point, although I am an attorney who now practices in Texas. I plan to move to Northfield as soon as I can.

Should legal action be required, the men already have talked to an organization which will provide legal assistance in Minnesota. I write this in hopes that this matter can be resolved without civil suit and without getting an attorney involved. Suing in federal court for the gross violations of the Minneapolis police can only cost the taxpayers of Minneapolis a lot of money for a hopeless cause. The story of the men whose rights were violated is all on DVD. It will be online on my website and also on facebook very soon. The law is clear as to the rights of people to preach, teach, speak, etc. on the public forum. The police, as I understand it, threatened the preachers with arrest for disorderly conduct and hate speech, if they did not leave in 5 minutes. The police did no investigation; they just threatened the street preachers. The street preachers know all about the law involved.

I am sure that you, as city attorney, are very familiar with First Amendment speech rights in the public forum. So that you know that the street preachers are also familiar with that law, you may refer to a tract which they are familiar with and which I wrote: the tract, “Street Preaching in America: Is It Legal”  is online at https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/tract-street-preaching-in-america-is-it-legal/. More legal information on free speech rights in the public forum is linked to on the website page listed in the next paragraph, a page they are familiar with.

These men have had to deal with matters like this before. You can read some of their trials and tribulations at https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/december-25-2013-an-unfolding-street-preaching-battle-in-northfield-minnesota/. In every case on that cite, you will find that the city police and government involved relented when the civil rights violations were brought to the attention of the city attorney, mayor, city council, Chief of Police, and police departments. The police department was instructed as to the law of speech in the public forum and thereafter ceased to violate the rights of the public speakers since they obviously did not want to waste taxpayer money for issues which are firmly entrenched in American law.

Hopefully, we will be able to resolve this matter in accordance with the law, and the police department will be educated on and thereafter do their job in these type situations (to protect peaceful public speakers who are exercising their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms from those who are so offended by protected speech that they lie, assault, etc. those who say things that upset them in public and so forth).

The street preachers have informed me that at least one of them was assaulted by an offended listener, yet the police refused to follow up on their complaint concerning the assault. The complaint was only made after the police rudely violated the civil rights of the preachers.

I will be contacting the chief of police, the city council members, and the mayor in our sincere attempts to resolve this matter in the most reasonable, lawful, and Christian manner without having to resort to legal actions which will cost your taxpayers a lot of money.

Yours Most Sincerely,
Jerald Finney

I received a response from the city attorney to the above e-mail on 041915 requesting specifics of the location of the incident. I promptly replied and included a link to the Youtube address (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh4h8q_WbkY) of the video of the encounter with the police.

We received back an e-mail from the Minneapolis PD. The e-mail (absent phone nos. and names) was as follows (in red):

Minneapolis [e-mail address removed]; To jerald.finney@sbcglobal.net; April 19, 2015 at 1:18 PM

Dear Jerald,

We appreciate your email.

You can file a complaint against the officer online and I have attached the link to this email [link removed]. You can also call Police conduct for them to review your video at 612-673-5500.

If there is anything else we can help you with please contact us.  Thank you for emailing the City of Minneapolis.

[Name removed]

Minneapolis 311
Office [Phone number removed]

Hours: 7 am – 7 pm (Monday – Friday) 8am – 4:30pm (Saturday – Sunday)
Email [e-mail address removed]
http://www.minneapolismn.gov

Please take a moment to rate your experience with Minneapolis 311. Click on the link below to provide us with your feedback.

311 Customer Feedback Form

Pastor Jason filed a complaint on 4/20/15 and will be called Police conduct to have them review the video(s).

If need be, the e-mail addresses for the city council members and city attorney will  be obtained , letters will be e-mailed to them, etc. Hopefully, the actions already initiated will, when completed, resolve this problem.

Pastor Jason Cooley received a letter dated April 30, 2015 from the Minneapolis Office of Police Conduct Review. The following is a picture of that letter:

On October 30, 2015, I e-mailed the appropriate officials. See that letter by clicking here.

Again, as always, these actions are being taken in an effort to settle this matter without having to go to Federal Court. Such action can cost the citizens of Minneapolis (or the University of Minnesota), as well as the department and individual officer(s) involved, a considerable amount of money in attorneys’ fees alone; and all for a hopeless cause the law of which is well established in American law. Of course, should the Chief, the Mayor, the City Council members, and the city attorney fail to respond properly, they, as well as the city, may also become subject to suit.

See the bias, arrogance, abuse, and lack of legal knowledge of the peace officer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh4h8q_WbkY.

See the street preachers at the Magus Bookstore Dinkeytown at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dERYyn8rzwk&feature=youtu.be

Other DVD’s taken at the scene are not published online.

October 31, 2015 Update

Men of the Old Paths Baptist Church street preaching ministry preached in both Dinkeytown and outside the University of Minnesota football stadium at and after the game between Minnesota and Michigan on October 31, 2015. On November 1, 2015, I inquired on Facebook as to how it went and received a reply from Pastor Jason:

110115_ReportOnDinketownStreetPreachingOn103115

Preaching to Satanists in Dinkeytown on October 31, 2015. Click image to go to the Youtube video.
Preaching to Satanists in Dinkeytown on October 31, 2015. Click image to go to the Youtube video.

Click here to read the 10/31/15 CMRRR letter to Minneapolis officials thanking them for doing their job as regards speakers and speech in the public forum.

Again, more specifics will be added as this situation develops.

Letter to appropriate officials concerning speech in the public forum (in Dinkeytown) by OPBC

Jerald C. Finney
Mail: P.O. Box 1346 ; Austin TX 78767
Office : 700 Lavaca, Suite 1400, Austin TX
Phone (512) 785-8445 (C) ; 512-808-5529 (O) ; 512-385-0761 (H)
E-MAIL: jerald.finney@sbcglobal.net
Website : « Separation of Church and State Law » (opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com)

10/30/2015

E-Mail to the following:

David Wilske
Patrol Lieutenant for the University of Minnesota Police Department
511 Washington Ave. SE
Suite No. 1
Minneapolis MN 55455
wilsk001@umn.edu

Cc:

Janeé Harteau
Chief of Police
350 South 5 th Street
Room 130
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1389
612-673-3559
Fax: 612-673-2613
E-mail: police@minneapolismn.gov

Inspector Katherine Waite
Commander of the 2nd Precinct
1911 Central Avenue N.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 673-5702
Fax (612) 370-3885
police@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Mayor Betsy Hodges
350 S. 5th St., Room 331
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: (612) 673-2100

City Attorney (Called but the answerer could not give me the name of the city attorney-gave me the e-mail address below)
City Hall, Room 210
350 S. 5th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2010
policereview@minneapolismn.gov

Ward 2 – Cam Gordon
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2202
cam.gordon@minneapolismn.gov

RE:  Advance notice concerning protected speech within the jurisdiction of UMPD by the men of the OPBC Street Preaching Ministry in a sincere effort to avoid the need for federal civil rights lawsuit.

Dear Lieutenant Wilske:

I am writing this letter as a member of Old Paths Baptist Church (“”OPBC”) in Northfield Minnesota. I am in the process of moving to Faribault, Minnesota from Austin Texas where I practice law.

You and I have talked about this matter. As you know, I am addressing this matter in advance to avoid the eventuality that your peace officers have not been properly educated in dealing with situations where citizens are exercising their right to freedom of speech as guaranteed by the United States Constitution, the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, and by the Minneapolis Charter and City Ordinances. You may have already educated your peace officers since our discussions began; but, as I have pointed out and provided to you the link to the online video of the incident, at least one of your officers has violated the civil rights of the peaceful speech activities of the men of OPBC street preaching ministry.

Some members of OPBC will, from time to time, be exercising their First Amendment speech rights in Dinkeytown, as they have done in the past. In their past activity, the police officer did not understand the law and therefore violated the rights of the street preachers. As I have pointed out to you, the federal courts, all the way to the top, have for a long time laid out the law in these matters. Now, a case which is precisely on point was just handed down by the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. You can go to the following article for all the details of concerning this matter, including a link to the video of the offending officer in action, as well as a link to the opinion in the October 28, 2015 Sixth Circuit case.

On October 28, 2015, the U.S. Sixth Circuit restated and strengthened First Amendment protection of speech in the public forum in a case where “Bible Believers” involved in street preaching to Muslims displayed a pigs head, amongst other direct speech. The Sixth Circuit stressed that the First Amendment “envelops all manner of speech, even when that speech is loathsome in its intolerance, designed to cause offense, and, as a result of such offense, arouses violent retaliation.” Attorney Robert Muise of the American Freedom Law Center, who argued the case on behalf of the Bible Believers, applauded the decision, saying it was  “solidly on the side of free speech.” “If this went the other way, it would incentivize  violence as a legitimate response to free speech, and that is wrong in our country,” Muise said.  “Any freedom-loving American enjoys protections of the First Amendment.”The Sixth Circuit said, “(The ruling)  affirms the rule of law that when a violent mob is responding violently to protected speech, the police’s duty is to protect the speaker and not join that mob that is intent in suppressing the speech,” Muise said. “Today, the First Amendment was the victor.” Click here to go directly to the opinion. Article: Anti-Muslim Slurs Get Legal Protection (102915).

 The defendants in the above mentioned case were: WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN; BENNY N. NAPOLEON, in his official capacity as Sheriff, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office; DENNIS RICHARDSON, individually and in his official capacity as Deputy Chief, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office; MIKE JAAFAR, individually and in his official capacity as Deputy Chief, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

The case now goes back to a federal judge in Detroit, who will decide what damages the “Bible Believers” are entitled to.

That case should make clear the duty of peace officers in America to protect the speaker and the speech in the public forum. As well, the case points out the limits of the speech activity and actions of the speakers and much more.

As we have discussed before the above mentioned ruling, speech in the public forum is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Constitution of the state of Minnesota, and by your City Code. The people of Old Paths Baptist Church were well aware of what the Supreme Court has ruled concerning speech in the public forum. For example, on the “Separation of Church and State Law” website you will find the tract Street Preaching in America – Is it Legal? (https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/tract-street-preaching-in-america-is-it-legal/ ). Some of the members, especially the leaders, have copies of and have studied that tract and other materials. I believe you may find the tract useful in that it covers the hierarchy of the relevant law from the highest to the lowest. For that tract, the lowest law was the Northfield, Minnesota Code of City Ordinances and Charter.

The members of the OPBC street preaching ministry (and all the members) have now been forwarded the links to the above mentioned Sixth Circuit case and a brief summary of it. The case is linked to in several places on the “Separation of Church and State Law” website; e.g. see . https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/december-25-2013-an-unfolding-street-preaching-battle-in-northfield-minnesota/.

I discussed this with Pastor Jason Cooley. He tried to call you, but you were unavailable. After several attempts, he told me to take care of it since he is very busy with several projects (preachers 3 times a week, does 2 online broadcasts each week, street preaches, has family responsibilities, etc.).

Accordingly, in order to attempt to prevent the necessity of Civil Rights suit in federal court, I am sending this notification to you and other city officials given in the heading. The law makes clear that it is the job of peace officers to protect public speakers engaged in First Amendment protected activities and their speech. Should another police officer behave as did the officer in the video, the only remedy will be costly (to the defendants, including the taxpayers of the county, the officers involved, and the officials who should have educated and supervised those officers or who should have made sure that the officers were properly educated and supervised). The men of the OPBC Street Preaching Ministry sincerely hope that court action not be called for since they would rather spend their time communicating the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ instead of fighting a battle which has already been fought and won.

I am sure that City Attorney is aware of the law in these matters. I would also hope that Chief of Police and other law enforcement personnel are as well. My concern is that all of the officials of the city as well as all law enforcement personnel and especially those who will be working the in Dinkeytown know the law and are prepared to enforce it. Their job is to protect all citizens, including those citizens involved in protected speech. They cannot properly do their job without knowing the law.

The men of OPBC have already had to confront other cities and towns for violation of the First Amendment. You may find some of their triumphant trials and tribulations as well as the latest law at:

https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/december-25-2013-an-unfolding-street-preaching-battle-in-northfield-minnesota/

 https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/

So far, every city and town where a problem has arisen concerning the public speech by the men of OPBC has now educated their law enforcement personnel and no lawsuit has been necessary. Here in Austin, Texas, peace officers are well educated in the law. I was involved in a street preaching ministry here for 19 years and the police always protected us because they have been educated in the relevant law since all kinds of activists regularly communicate (speech, signs, symbols, tracts, etc.) in the public forum. They protected us and informed disruptive citizens of the law of free speech in America. On one occasion, a man who assaulted me was detained by the police. He lied and said I assaulted him. The police told me what he said but also said that they saw the whole thing and said I could file charges. I told them that I did not wish to do so. I could tell you numerous other stories of the great job the police in Austin, Texas do in upholding the law and protecting those who speak in the public forum.

The men of OPBC always endeavor to settle matters peaceably and according to the law. They do not wish to try to respectfully educate peace officers (sometimes very rude and obnoxious peace officers – see some of the encounters linked to on the website pages above) who are not acting according to the law. They do not wish to spend time in filing and executing lawsuits against offending officials (individual peace officers, county and city attorneys, mayors, city council members, and the cities in general) for matters which are well settled in the law. They have no desire to cost those people and the tax paying citizens unnecessary expense. I am sure you would rather use the city taxpayer money for other matters. Even more important, I am sure you wish to properly honor the law and to protect innocent persons who are peaceably exercising their rights under that law. In the event a lawsuit is necessary, OPBC has already contacted lawyers who will be ready and able to go to court in Minnesota.

Several cameras will be in use by the people of OPBC so that should false charges or accusations be made, or should lawsuit(s) be necessary, the facts will be protected from lies or misunderstandings.

Please educate your police officers and other city officials who may be involved all over the city of Minneapolis, and especially the Dinkeytown area, as to law concerning speech in the public forum in America. OPBC desires to have a good working relationship with the officials and all citizens of Anoka.

Again, on the above webpages, you will find other legal resources, positive and negative encounters with police officers linked to on Youtube, etc. which may help you as you look at this matter.

This letter is being posted on the website at: https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/letter-to-appropriate-officials-concerning-speech-in-the-public-forum-in-dinkeytown-by-opbc/

The article which covers this entire episode is at: https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/opbc-street-preachers-actions-against-university-of-minnesota-peace-officer-who-acted-unlawfully/

Very truly yours,

Jerald C. Finney
Jcf

Letter to city officials concerning up-coming street preaching by the men of OPBC

1

Click to go to Anoka
Click to go to Anoka “Grand Day Parade Guidelines.”

The men of Old Paths Baptist Church have decided to start, when time permits, to notify towns and cities where they have not street preached of their intent to do so. Hopefully, this will cause those notified entities to properly educate their peace officers in advance. Below is:

(1) the first prior notice letter I have mailed out. I will send it to the named officials by both e-mail and by written letter. As the letter indicates, the city may have already educated their peace officers, but experience has proven that that is not always the case.
(2) the cover letter I included on the letters to Mayor Phil Rice and the council members which were all mailed in one package since they were at the same address.
(3) UPDATES.

(1)

Jerald C. Finney


Mail: P.O. Box 1346 ; Austin TX 78767
Office : 700 Lavaca, Suite 1400, Austin TX
Phone (512) 785-8445 (C) ; 512-808-5529 (O) ; 512-385-0761 (H)
E-MAIL: jerald.finney@sbcglobal.net
Website : “Separation of Church and State Law” (opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com)

10/21/2015

MAYOR: Phil Rice 612-702-8442; 2015 First Ave; Anoka MN 55303
Email: philrice@ci.anoka.mn.us; Term expires: 12-31-2016

COUNCILMEMBERS:

Tony Palumbo Anoka County Attorney; County Attorney’s Office; 2100 Third Ave.; Anoka, MN  55303; Ph: 763-323-5550; Fx: 763-422-7589

Chief Philip Johanson; Police Chief and Emergency/Management Director; Phil Johanson 763-576-2831

RE:  Advance notice concerning protected speech on “Grand Day Parade” day.

Dear Anoka Mayor, City Council members, chief of police, and city attorney:

I am writing this letter as a member of Old Paths Baptist Church (“”OPBC”) in Northfield Minnesota. I am in the process of moving to Faribault, Minnesota from Austin Texas where I practice law.

I am writing this letter in advance to avoid the eventuality that your peace officers have not been properly educated in dealing with situations where citizens are exercising their right to freedom of speech as guaranteed by the United States Constitution, the Constitution of the State of Minnnesota, and by the Anoka City Code. You may have already educated your peace officers, but the men of the OPBC street preaching ministry have found that some towns and cities were not informed and therefore acted contrary to the law.

Some members of OPBC plan to attend your upcoming parade. They will be handing out Gospel tracts in the public forum. They will not attempt to march in the parade. They understand that they cannot violate a criminal law, but they also know that the law (disorderly conduct, obstructing a passageway, doorway, or roadway, littering (when they themselves do not litter), etc.) cannot be used as a pretense to deny them their rights in the public forum. The tract below, which they have copies of, quotes from several United States Supreme Court cases which cover all these matters.

As you know, speech in the public forum is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Constitution of the state of Minnesota, and by your City Code. The people of Old Paths Baptist Church are well aware of what the Supreme Court has ruled concerning speech in the public forum. For example, on the “Separation of Church and State Law” website you will find the tract Street Preaching in America – Is it Legal? (https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/tract-street-preaching-in-america-is-it-legal/). Some of the members, especially the leaders, have copies of and have studied that tract and other materials. I believe you may find the tract useful in that it covers the hierarchy of the relevant law from the highest to the lowest. For that tract, the lowest law was the Northfield, Minnesota Code of City Ordinances and Charter.

I am sure that City Attorney Tony Palumbo is aware of the law in these matters. I would also hope that Chief Philip Johanson is as well. My concern is that all of the officials of the city as well as all law enforcement personnel and especially those who will be working the “Grand Day Parade” know the law and are prepared to enforce it. Their job is to protect all citizens, including those citizens involved in protected speech. They cannot properly do their job without knowing the law.

The men of OPBC have already had to confront other cities and towns for violation of the First Amendment. You may find some of their trials and tribulations at:

https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/december-25-2013-an-unfolding-street-preaching-battle-in-northfield-minnesota/

https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/

So far, every city and town where a problem has arisen concerning the public speech by the men of OPBC has now educated their law enforcement personnel and no lawsuit has been necessary. Here in Austin, Texas, peace officers are well educated in the law. I was involved in a street preaching ministry here for 19 years and the police always protected us because they have been educated in the relevant law since all kinds of activists regularly communicate (speech, signs, symbols, tracts, etc.) in the public forum. They protected us and informed disruptive citizens of the law of free speech in America. On one occasion, a man who assaulted me was detained by the police. He lied and said I assaulted him. The police told me what he said but also said that they saw the whole thing and said I could file charges. I told them that I did not wish to do so. I could tell you numerous other stories of the great job the police in Austin, Texas do in upholding the law and protecting those who speak in the public forum.

The men of OPBC always endeavor to settle matters peaceably and according to the law. They do not wish to try to respectfully educate peace officers (sometimes very rude and obnoxious peace officers – see some of the encounters linked to on the website pages above) who are not acting according to the law. They do not wish to spend time in filing and executing lawsuits against offending officials (individual peace officers, county and city attorneys, mayors, city council members, and the cities in general) for matters which are well settled in the law. They have no desire to cost those people and the tax paying citizens unnecessary expense. I am sure you would rather use the city taxpayer money for other matters. Even more important, I am sure you wish to properly honor the law and to protect innocent persons who are peaceably exercising their rights under that law. In the event a lawsuit is necessary, OPBC has already contacted lawyers who will be ready and able to go to court in Minnesota.

Several cameras will be in use by the people of OPBC so that should false charges or accusations be made, or should lawsuit(s) be necessary, the facts will be protected from lies or misunderstandings.

Please educate your police officers and other city officials who may be involved in the Parade Day events as to law concerning speech in the public forum in America. OPBC desires to have a good working relationship with the officials and all citizens of Anoka.

Again, on the above webpages, you will find other legal resources, positive and negative encounters with police officers linked to on Youtube, etc. which may help you as you look at this matter.

This letter is being posted on the website at: https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/letter-to-city-officials-concerning-up-coming-street-preaching-by-the-men-of-opbc/

Very truly yours,
Jerald C. Finney
jcf


(2)

Jerald C. Finney


Mail: P.O. Box 1346 ; Austin TX 78767
Office : 700 Lavaca, Suite 1400, Austin TX
Phone (512) 785-8445 (C) ; 512-808-5529 (O) ; 512-385-0761 (H)
E-MAIL: jerald.finney@sbcglobal.net
Website : “Separation of Church and State Law” (opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com)

10/22/2015

MAYOR: Phil Rice 612-702-8442; 2015 First Ave; Anoka MN 55303

COUNCILMEMBERS:

RE:  Enclosed letters regarding “Advance notice concerning protected speech on ‘Grand Day Parade’ day”.

Dear Anoka Mayor and City Council members:

Enclosed in this package is a copy of a letter which was emailed to you regarding protected speech on “Grand Day Parade” for the honorable Phil Rice, the honorable Carl Anderson, the honorable Mark Freeburg, the honorable Steve Schmidt, and the honorable Jeff Weaver.

Since all the above city officials have the same address, I am sending the letters in one package to save work and expense. Please make sure that each of you gets a copy.

Thank you for your courtesies in this matter. Hopefully we can all work together to make your parade day one which will serve to enlighten all concerned about American law concerning protected speech in the public forum and promote peaceful healthy debate about important matters.

The speech and actions of the men of OPBC will be peaceful, but controversial. If other members of the public are properly educated by you and/or by Anoka police officers at the scene, all will more fully appreciate the great freedoms provided by American law at all levels, from the United States Constitution, the Minnesota Constitution, and the Anoka City Code.

Should the peace officers at the scene not understand the law, convey it to members of the public who might be disruptive and/or make false charges against the speakers, or falsely use existing laws (breach of peace, obstructing, etc.) to try to deny the speech rights of the men of OPBC, time-consuming and expensive (to the Anoka taxpayers) legal action may be necessary. The men of OPBC sincerely wish to avoid the last mentioned eventuality.

Thank you for your help, attention to, and courtesies in this matter.

Very truly yours,

Jerald C. Finney
jcf

(3) UPDATES:

Email from Pastor Jason Cooley on 10/25/15 and my reply (The men of OPBC “No Small Stir” street preaching ministry preached on the streets of Anoka on 10/24/15) and will preach there during the “Grand Parade Day” to exercise their First Amendment freedom of speech rights):

AnokaEmail102515

Street Preaching, Spiritual Warfare/Luciferianism, Enochian Magick, Aliester Crowley & Dinkytown Witches

Sinners_Hell

Jerald Finney
Copyright © October 11, 2015

Dinkytown

October 31, 2015 at Dinkeytown: CHEWBACCA showed up; but, sadly, did not get saved
October 31, 2015 at Dinkeytown: CHEWBACCA showed up; but, sadly, did not get saved. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Never before has it been more clear that “churches” in America have not been fighting spiritual warfare as directed by God. See After Salvation. The treatment of one of Satan’s main spiritual leaders, the Pope, proves this as do other facts. One of those facts is the spread, before our very eyes, of luciferianism and magic. Children (see, e.g., PBN children’s programming) and adult programs on television, in the movies, and music are preparing the way for the anti-christ by teaching, e.g., magic and luciferianism. This article is actually based upon an entry on “The Trials and Tribulations of the OPBC ‘No Small Stir’ Street Preaching Ministry.” This article clearly illustrates the clash between good and evil in America. Sadly, most “Christians” have no idea what is going on nor are they following their Lord and fighting evil on any (most “Christians”) front or all fronts (almost all “Christians”). The clash is centered in the public speech forum in front of a luciferian bookstore in Dinkytown.

Believers, luciferians, and all who are interested in what is going on in the spiritual realm should listen to Luciferianism, Enochian Magick, Aliester Crowley & Dinkytown Witches.

The following is copied and pasted from the webpage. The believer will learn much by reading and listening to the resources linked to on the following which is copied and pasted from The Trials and Tribulations of the OPBC‘No Small Stir’ Street Preaching Ministry (this will be supplemented as the situation develops):

April 18, 2015 update

Satanists hate the free speech that came about because of the persecutions and spiritual warefare of our historic Baptist brothers, sisters, and children. Yet they want to communicate their lies on others.
Satanists hate the free speech that came about because of the persecutions and spiritual warefare of our historic Baptist brothers, sisters, and children. Yet they want to communicate their lies to others.

Freedom of speech as guaranteed by the United States Constitution, First Amendment, the Minnesota Constitution, and the city of Minneapolis Charter and Code of Ordinances is especially important in this situation. To understand why, go to Luciferianism, Enochian Magick, Aliester Crowley & Dinkytown Witches.

On this date, Old Paths Baptist Church (“OPBC”) men went to Minneapolis MN to preach in the public forum. Some were assaulted. A peace officer came and told them to leave in 5 minutes or be arrested, thereby violating their civil rights (First Amendment speech rights). The men of  OPBC understand the limits of the law concerning street preaching; they know that freedom of speech does not allow them to criminal trespass, obstruct highways, passageways, and doorways, to assault anyone, etc. But they also know that their speech cannot be suppressed by the police or anyone else in violation of First Amendment law or based upon pretense. The law on this is available on various resources linked to on this site. See, e.g., other information on this webpage, Tract, Street Preaching in America: Is it Legal? or For greater understanding of the free speech rights of Americans in the public forum click left click here and read the brief of Jerald Finney in the Steve Drake case.

See the bias, arrogance, abuse, and lack of legal knowledge of the peace officer at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh4h8q_WbkY.

5See the actions toward street preachers of a Minneapolis Police Officer who understands First Amendment law concerning speech in the public forum at: Minneapolis Police Officer understands the First Amendment.

OPBC will make a sincere effort to handle this matter without the need for court intervention. They men of OPBC will be returning to street preach at Dinkeytown and want to make sure the officers know the law so that they can properly perform their duties according to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Minnesota. OPBC does not want to cause unnecessary expense to individual police officers, the University of Minnesota Police Department, the mayor and city council of Minneapolis, and the taxpayers of the city of Minneapolis nor do they wish to waste the time God has given them by addressing well settled legal matters in court.

4As of April 18, 2015 at 9:55 p.m., e-mails have been sent to Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges, Minneapolis City Attorney, and Chief of Police Junee Harteau. The e-mail to the city attorney (the other e-mails were modified for the particular office) stated as follows (in red):

041815
From Jerald Finney
jerald.finney@sbcglobal.net
512-785-8445

RE: Violation of Civil Rights of Street Preachers by Minneapolis Police

To City Attorney of Minneapolis, MN.:

3I am writing this note as a member of and on behalf of men whose civil rights were blatantly violated by the Minneapolis Police on April 18, 2014. The men are members of the church I also belong to, OPBCin Northfield, MN. I write this as a member of the church, not as a legal representative at this point, although I am an attorney who now practices in Texas. I plan to move to Northfield as soon as I can.

Should legal action be required, the men already have talked to an organization which will provide legal assistance in Minnesota. I write this in hopes that this matter can be resolved without civil suit and without getting an attorney involved. Suing in federal court for the gross violations of the Minneapolis police can only cost the taxpayers of Minneapolis a lot of money for a hopeless cause. The story of the men whose rights were violated is all on DVD. It will be online on my website and also on facebook very soon. The law is clear as to the rights of people to preach, teach, speak, etc. on the public forum. The police, as I understand it, threatened the preachers with arrest for disorderly conduct and hate speech, if they did not leave in 5 minutes. The police did no investigation; they just threatened the street preachers. The street preachers know all about the law involved.

2I am sure that you, as city attorney, are very familiar with First Amendment speech rights in the public forum. So that you know that the street preachers are also familiar with that law, you may refer to a tract which they are familiar with and which I wrote: the tract, “Street Preaching in America: Is It Legal”  is online at https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/tract-street-preaching-in-america-is-it-legal/. More legal information on free speech rights in the public forum is linked to on the website page listed in the next paragraph, a page they are familiar with.

9These men have had to deal with matters like this before. You can read some of their trials and tribulations at https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/b-messages-from-pastor/street-preaching/december-25-2013-an-unfolding-street-preaching-battle-in-northfield-minnesota/. In every case on that cite, you will find that the city police and government involved relented when the civil rights violations were brought to the attention of the city attorney, mayor, city council, Chief of Police, and police departments. The police department was instructed as to the law of speech in the public forum and thereafter ceased to violate the rights of the public speakers since they obviously did not want to waste taxpayer money for issues which are firmly entrenched in American law.

1Hopefully, we will be able to resolve this matter in accordance with the law, and the police department will be educated on and thereafter do their job in these type situations (to protect peaceful public speakers who are exercising their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms from those who are so offended by protected speech that they lie, assault, etc. those who say things that upset them in public and so forth).

The street preachers have informed me that at least one of them was assaulted by an offended listener, yet the police refused to follow up on their complaint concerning the assault. The complaint was only made after the police rudely violated the civil rights of the preachers.

I will be contacting the chief of police, the city council members, and the mayor in our sincere attempts to resolve this matter in the most reasonable, lawful, and Christian manner without having to resort to legal actions which will cost your taxpayers a lot of money.

Yours Most Sincerely,
Jerald Finney

7I received a response from the city attorney to the above e-mail on 041915 requesting specifics of the location of the incident. I promptly replied and included a link to the Youtube address (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh4h8q_WbkY) of the video of the encounter with the police.

We received back an e-mail from the Minneapolis PD. The e-mail (absent phone nos. and names) was as follows (in red):

Minneapolis [e-mail address removed]; To jerald.finney@sbcglobal.net; April 19, 2015 at 1:18 PM

Dear Jerald,

We appreciate your email.

You can file a complaint against the officer online and I have attached the link to this email [link removed]. You can also call Police conduct for them to review your video at 612-673-5500.

If there is anything else we can help you with please contact us.  Thank you for emailing the City of Minneapolis.

[Name removed]

Minneapolis 311
Office [Phone number removed]

Hours: 7 am – 7 pm (Monday – Friday) 8am – 4:30pm (Saturday – Sunday)
Email [e-mail address removed]
http://www.minneapolismn.gov

Please take a moment to rate your experience with Minneapolis 311. Click on the link below to provide us with your feedback.

311 Customer Feedback Form

Pastor Jason filed a complaint on 4/20/15 and will be called Police conduct to have them review the video(s).

If need be, the e-mail addresses for the city council members and city attorney will  be obtained , letters will be e-mailed to them, etc. Hopefully, the actions already initiated will, when completed, resolve this problem.

Pastor Jason Cooley received a letter dated April 30, 2015 from the Minneapolis Office of Police Conduct Review. The following is a picture of that letter:

I will be dealing with the UMPD according to their guidelines (Addressing Concerns or complaints) starting Monday, October 12, 2013 and will supplement this article accordingly. I will begin by trying to handle this informally, but it that does not work, a formal written complaint will be filed.

8Again, as always, these actions are being taken in an effort to settle this matter without having to go to Federal Court. Such action can cost the citizens of Minneapolis (or the University of Minnesota), as well as the department and individual officer(s) involved, a considerable amount of money in attorneys’ fees alone; and all for a hopeless cause the law of which is well established in American law. Of course, should the Chief, the Mayor, the City Council members, and the city attorney fail to respond properly, they, as well as the city, may also become subject to suit.

I e-mailed a letter (click here for online of the letter) and also sent it CMRRR on November 2, 2015 the Minneapolis Mayor, Chief of Police, Lieutenant David Wilske  (Patrol Division, University of Minnesota Police Department), The Ward 2 City Councilman, the Commander of the 2nd Precinct, and the City Attorney

The OPBC street preachers street preached in Dinkeytown and then outside the University of Minnesota football stadium (during and after the Minnesota/Michigan football game) on October 31, 2015.

110115_ReportOnDinketownStreetPreachingOn103115

I e-mailed a letter of thanks to the appropriate Minneapolis officials on November 2, 2015. Click here to see a copy of that letter.

Officer Wilske courteously replied to my e-mail on November 4, 2015. He stated that he already understood First Amendment speech rights, that he observed a group of street preachers at Dinkeytown and outside the football stadium on October 31, and reminded them that they cannot ” block passage of pedestrians or sidewalks and they understood this and abided by this.”

At this point, the problem seems to have been brought under control. The men of OPBC want to thank Lieutenant Wilske for his courtesy and professionalism in dealing with them and this matter.

See the bias, arrogance, abuse, and lack of legal knowledge of the peace officer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh4h8q_WbkY.

See the street preachers at the Magus Bookstore Dinkeytown at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dERYyn8rzwk&feature=youtu.be

Other DVD’s taken at the scene are not published online.

The Minneapolis Police have now done their job, to this date (November 23, 2015) when the men of OPBC have street preached there. On November 4, 2015, I received an e-mail from Lieutenant Wilske in which he said that he understood 1st Amendment rights and will refresh the officers memories on this.

The men of OPBC street preaching ministry, as should all citizens of the city of the United States, wish to thank Lieutenant Wilske and the other Minneapolis police officers who respect and obey the law. The freedoms provided for in the Constitution of the United States and lower laws make this a better place to live.

RichardYerby

Testimonial concerning the book God Betrayed and the ignorance of fundamentalist pastors revealed

October 5, 2015

I received the following testimonial concerning God Betrayed/Separation of Church and State: The Biblical Principles and the American Application on October 5, 2015. Prior testimonials have been made verbally and some in writing, but I never thought of keeping a record of them until now.

1_Recd_100515

The following was my first reply to the above on October 5, 2015:

2_My1stReply_100515

I then replied with links to some relevant on line articles including:

Christians Who Call Evil Good and Good Evil

Does God and/or Civil Government Require Churches to Get 5011(c)(3) Status?

First Amendment Protection of New Testament Churches/Federal Laws Protecting State Churches (Religious Organizations)

One of my lectures on the hierarchy of law

For more specifics on the 501(c)(3) and 508 issue, I could have included the following links: 

The church incorporation-501(c)(3) control scheme

Federal government control of churches through 501(c)(3) tax exemption

Church Internal Revenue Code § 508 Tax Exempt Status

For full explanation of all matters and questions:

Online version of the book God Betrayed

Of course, I could have gone on and on in the facebook comment above.