Preacher Accused of Offensive Speech Pleads Not Guilty
A sidewalk preacher was arraigned Thursday on a charge he disturbed the peace by using offensive language likely to provoke a violent reaction.
Gregory Hamilton, a member of the Israeli Church of Universal Practical Knowledge, is alleged to have threatened violence in the name of Jesus to a shop employee while he preached Oct. 18 on a Pasadena sidewalk, the city prosecutor said.
His attorney, Gary A. Farwell, said the incident never occurred. Hamilton entered a not guilty plea.
“This is religious persecution,” Farwell said.
The Congress of Racial Equality--a Los Angeles civil rights group--has called the charge a violation of Hamilton’s 1st Amendment rights.
Hamilton, who is also known as Priest Zayan Ahla, said police never interviewed him or asked to see a videotape of him preaching that day.
Prosecutors requested Thursday that he turn over the videotape by Dec. 16. Hamilton returns to court on Jan. 14.
Bystanders have verbally clashed with the church’s preachers, who appear each Sunday in shopping area to deliver their anti-white gospel and proclaim that blacks are the true descendants of ancient Hebrews.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
