Charge Against Sidewalk Preacher Dropped

A charge accusing a sidewalk preacher of disturbing the peace in Old Pasadena has been dropped. It had been filed after a shop employee alleged that he had threatened her life.

Deputy City Prosecutor Connie Orozco said the charge was dropped after a review of a videotape of the Oct. 18 incident showed no criminal activity by Gregory Hamilton, a priest in the Israeli Church of Universal Practical Knowledge.

On the tape, made available to prosecutors after Hamilton’s arraignment, he is preaching about Halloween when he talks to two women on Colorado Boulevard, one a city commissioner and another a shop employee.

“If you had the chance, you would slit my throat,” Hamilton said.

City Commissioner Terrie Allen replied, “Kill me now, honey.” Hamilton then replied, “I would, but Christ told me not to.”

The shop employee alleged that she took it as a threat to her as well.

Hamilton’s attorney, Gary Farwell, said, “The charges were ridiculous from the gate.”

Bystanders have verbally clashed with the church’s preachers, who appear each Sunday in the shopping area to deliver their anti-white gospel and proclaim that blacks are the true descendants of ancient Hebrews.