Pro-life pastor Walter Hoye is making headlines because of his Christian stance against abortion. Recently arrested in front of an abortion clinic in Oakland, California reports said that Hoye was sentenced to 30 days in prison for violating a two year city ordinance and ordered to stay 100 yards away from the clinic for the next three years.  Hoye was carrying a 40-inch sign that read, “Jesus Loves You & Your Baby. Let Us Help You” and attempting to hand out pro-life literature.

A reader of The Voice magazine, Christine, commented with her eye witness account of what happened in the courtroom:

I was in attendance in that courtroom, and for nearly three hours in the hallway beforehand, as well as present when Walter finally emerged hours later. I saw the physical bullying and screaming of one of the self-proclaimed clinic “spokesperson” in the hallway - she was throwing herself at people and then screeching that they pushed her, as if she were an elementary kid on a playground. Clearly she had a lot of experience in manipulating crowds and law officers, but the sheriff she screamed for told her to stop it and reminded her that “patience is a virtue”.

The hallway was filled with Walter’s supporters, about 150. The clinic’s supporters numbered about 40. They were almost all white and over 60. Walter’s crowd was multi-generational, multi-racial, both Catholic and Protestant and non-sectarian, and equal parts men and women.

Let it be absolutely clear that sentencing is NOT in effect. Walter Hoye asserted his legal right to refuse the sentencing, preferring to be sent to jail. Because the judge was not willing to put him in jail, Walter went free, with no restrictions. The sentencing is continued until a March date.

Assistant D.A. Graff clearly didn’t know his civil rights or intellectual history: he MOCKED Walter’s quote of MLK’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail - “An unjust law is no law at all”, originally penned by Augustine. Graff needs to brush up on the writings and principles of our nation’s most central civil rights leader before he goes mocking and abusing a man who follows peacefully in those footsteps, fully within his rights and obeying all existing laws.

Hoye was given no such “threat” about approaching women, and it is pointless anyway because he never approached anyone, as the video evidence made clear. He was only convicted (on the judge’s biased instruction to the jury) on 2 lesser counts of “intent” to approach, rather than actually convicted on any major account of approach of any kind. In fact, as you’ll see on the videos (see http://www.lldf.org) the CLINIC ESCORTS were HARASSING HIM, and showing no respect for his physical person.

Walter told the judge he would respect the law, even though it is utterly unconstitutional and unjust, and he already had been respecting the law. The law is 100 feet, and Walter respected that. The judge tried to increase that distance to 100 yards, which is ridiculous.

This is an outrageous case which the judge knows he should have dismissed.

Dion Evans, an outstanding African American pastor from Alameda, did not “wrestle” with anyone as reported in the newspaper. He demanded the police not touch him, and he left the courtroom of his own free will. The judge listened to what Evans had to say, and then left first, without ordering any detaining of Evans.

Comment ends.

It was also reported that while he awaited sentencing Hoye said, “It is my prayer that God’s name be glorified and the life of His Son Jesus Christ be revealed in me.”

In 2008 the Hoye’s were actively opposing California’s Proposition 4. Here is a video that captures their passion for the unborn.