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New page: In October of 2001, a 69 year old street preacher named Harry Hammond from Bournemouth, England was subjected to assault by a angry crowd of 40 people while he proclaimed his Christian...
In October of 2001, a 69 year old street preacher named Harry Hammond from Bournemouth, [[England]] was subjected to assault by a angry crowd of 40 people while he proclaimed his Christian views in the town center which included a call to repentance in respect to homosexuality.<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref> Mr. Hammond suffered from a type of autism making speaking with others difficult for him.<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref> Mr. Hammond was holding a sign bearing the words, "Jesus Gives Peace, Jesus is Alive, Stop Immorality, Stop Homosexuality, Stop Lesbianism, Jesus is Lord".<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref>
Two police officers arrived at the scene, there was a disagreement as to whether they should protect him or arrest him and eventually Mr Hammond was arrested but no violent members of the crowd were arrested.<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref> At the time there were complaints from homosexuals about the sign which called for repentance in regards to homosexuality.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_200205/ai_n9117665</ref>
Subsequently, Harry Hammond was charged and prosecuted and fined under the Public Order Act 1986.<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref> Sadly, Mr Hammond later died and despite a posthumous court appeal stating that Mr. Hammond should have the right to freedom of religion and the freedom to express his beliefs, it was ruled that Harry Hammond had acted unreasonably in holding up a sign he knew to be offensive.<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref> A further appeal to the [[European Court of Human Rights]] was also dismissed.<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref>
Two police officers arrived at the scene, there was a disagreement as to whether they should protect him or arrest him and eventually Mr Hammond was arrested but no violent members of the crowd were arrested.<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref> At the time there were complaints from homosexuals about the sign which called for repentance in regards to homosexuality.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_200205/ai_n9117665</ref>
Subsequently, Harry Hammond was charged and prosecuted and fined under the Public Order Act 1986.<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref> Sadly, Mr Hammond later died and despite a posthumous court appeal stating that Mr. Hammond should have the right to freedom of religion and the freedom to express his beliefs, it was ruled that Harry Hammond had acted unreasonably in holding up a sign he knew to be offensive.<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref> A further appeal to the [[European Court of Human Rights]] was also dismissed.<ref>http://www.christian.org.uk/rel_liberties/cases/harry_hammond.htm</ref>