Pro-life pastor begins 30 day jail sentence
I previously reported that pastor Walter Hoye had been handed a 30-day sentence for violating a new Oakland, CA, law creating a free speech buffer zone around abortion mills. Well, the sentence has begun. Reported the San Francisco Chronicle on March 21:
A pastor at a Berkeley church was jailed Friday for 30 days after unsuccessfully arguing that an order requiring him to stay 100 yards away from an Oakland abortion clinic violates his right to free speech.
Walter Hoye, 52, of Union City was the first person convicted under an Oakland ordinance barring protesters from coming within 8 feet of anyone entering an abortion clinic.
In February, Judge Stuart Hing of Alameda County Superior Court sentenced Hoye to three years’ probation and 30 days in jail, and ordered him to pay $1,000….
Hoye could have disposed of the jail time in a sheriff’s work detail or by volunteering. But he balked at the judge’s order to stay 100 yards from Family Planning Specialists Medical Group at Second and Webster streets. Hoye argued that the order was more severe than Oakland’s ordinance and stifled his First Amendment rights.
Hing refused to budge at a hearing Friday at which Hoye’s attorneys tried to stay the sentence pending an appeal. The judge asked Hoye to decide whether he wished to serve a month in jail or in an alternative program, and the pastor chose jail.
Supporters shouted, “We love you, Walter,” and clapped as Hoye was led away by sheriff’s deputies….
Hoye… was arrested May 13 at the Oakland clinic, carrying a sign that read, “Jesus loves you and your baby. Let us help you!”
As women approached the door, he asked them, “May I talk to you about alternatives to the clinic?”
I just received this email update from Pastor Hoye’s wife, Lori:
I have visited Walter twice (Saturday and Sunday) and he is in good spirits and physically safe and sound. The Lord has placed him in what is known as the “Bible Corner” and at the time of my first visit on Saturday (Walter arrived at around 4:30am) Walter had already been in Bible study with some of the men in his unit. On Sunday just prior to my visit Walter had led one man to Christ. God is truly blessing Walter’s presence in Santa Rita, and many men are seeking his counsel about their lives and situations.
Walter requested prayer for wisdom while he is in Santa Rita and clarity from the Lord to continue to do His will upon his release.
If you would like to write or visit Walter here is the information:
Walter B. Hoye II
PFN# BGR852
Santa Rita Jail
5325 Broder Blvd.
Dublin, CA 94568-3309
Visitation Schedule – Housing Unit 34
Thursday 12:00p – 3:00p
Saturday 12:00p – 3:00p
Sunday 6:00p – 9:00p
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I’m so glad to read that he is using his time in jail as a ministry. I will continue to pray for him during his time in jail.
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”- James 1:12
1 Peter 5:9
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 4:16
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
This guy is an absolute hero.
Go man go!!!!!
Mr. Hoye is such a wonderful soul. He didn’t do anything wrong by protesting, so it’s sad that no one minds when his individual rights are violated. God bless Mr. Hoye for his dedication. I wish that I were that brave.
Posted by: TheSingingZombie at March 23, 2009 7:14 PM”
You are a whack job.
In a recent post you said that you would give your daughter an abortion, now you are suggesting that someone assassinate a Pastor.
I suspect that you have been on this site before under a different name and were banned.
Well, be prepared to get banned again.
Moderators: Is suggesting that someone take out a pastor qualify one to be banned? If not it should.
SZ,
What you seem to fail to comprehend is that a right infringed for one is a right infringed for all.
If the ‘state’ can limit one person’s freedom to speak and to dissent then than can limit your freedom to speak.
I suspect you are not so short sighted that did not already understand the concept. You have just made a mental calculation that it OK to censor Mr. Hoye because you do not agree with what he saying and doing.
I suspect if Mr. Hoye was picketing outside a research faclility that used animals for test subjects you would be applauding his activities. In fact you would be joining him.
I respect people who have the courage to protest that which they believe to be immoral or injust even if I do not agree with them.
Cowards are never the friends of liberty. Brave men and women will always be the enemies of tyrany.
yor bro ken
Moderator please ban the idiot “Singing Zombie”, no one including pro-lifers should be allowed to promote assassinating anyone including even abortionists, although I personally consider them to be the scum of the earth, we are against violence, and killing. We’re here for LIFE. My prayers are going out to Pastor Hoye and his family, may God continue to bless and use him in jail.
I’m encouraging my friends to write to him in thanks. I don’t know about one, but I’m sure that the other will write to him. I hope that he’s receiving lots of support for the laudable deeds that he’s done.
I think this Beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount is appropriate for the dear Reverend:
“Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
I’m encouraging my friends to write to him in thanks
I’m sending him a card, Vannah. I hope he gets inundated with support and encouragement. Like you said above, I wish I had his bravery.
Yor bro ken, you’re absolutely right, of course there should be no limits on free speech. That means, if I decide I want to give a speech in your bedroom, at three o’clock in the morning, I should be allowed to do so. Free speech!!!!
Seriously, I agree, it’s sad that terrorists can make it necessary to restrict the activities of non-terrorists in order to prevent terror, but what can you do? If Hoye objects to having his speech restricted, let him complain to those who promote and commit anti-abortion terror and near-terror.
Oh, and I have not “promoted” or “suggested” that anyone should assassinate him. I have PREDICTED that it may happen.
And Yor bro ken, you wrote: “I suspect if Mr. Hoye was picketing outside a research faclility that used animals for test subjects you would be applauding his activities. In fact you would be joining him.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I have killed hundreds, maybe thousands, of rodents, with my own hands, while doing scientific research. I have killed rodents for research using: carbon dioxide, cyanide, ricin, phenobarbital, two different cancer lines, heat lamps, intravenously injected air, and my fingers.
Reverend Hoye is NOT a terrorist.
Would you say those who risked their lives to hide Jews during WWII were terrorists? What about the Northerners who provided shelter for escaped slaves along the “Underground Railroad”?
A man or woman who merely offers LOVE and SUPPORT to frightened women who are desperate and think abortion is their ONLY choice are NOT terrorists.
The real terrorists are the abortionists who tear apart the tiny bodies of unborn babies from their mother’s wombs.
Just ignore the trolls. Let’s focus our energies on what we can do to keep spreading a message of peace, equal rights, and freedom, which is what Hoye was doing, and offering him moral support. He’s earned it. And, in all honesty, it does us no good to even answer the trolls; they seem, as sad as this makes me feel, to thrive off of anger and frustration. We’d be feeding their intolerance for the preborn if we just get frustrated with them. SingingZombie is hoping to be clever and hoping to score points with fruitless arguments. Leave him to himself. We have to focus on good work and not fighting.
Where is the Rev Al Sharpton and the Rev Jesse Jackson.I guess they don’t care about how this mans Rights are trampled.
Oh, I forgot standing up for him is not PC !
Posted by: Anonymous at March 23, 2009 9:18 PM
“Yor bro ken, you’re absolutely right, of course there should be no limits on free speech. That means, if I decide I want to give a speech in your bedroom, at three o’clock in the morning, I should be allowed to do so. Free speech!!!!”
——————————————————–
The trial produced no evidence that Mr. Hoye trespassed on private property, or threatened anyone in any way shape or form. The video evidence did show that the accusers were liars.
Mr. Hoye was not charged with trespassing, assault, breech of the peace, or threats of violence. He was accused of violating a law that the local city council wrote specifically for him. They did not like his ‘speech’, so they sought to limit it.
To Mr. Hoyes credit he challenged the unjust law by violating it and when he was convicted he refused to comply with the judges conditions for his release, because the conditions were more onerous than the law. Now it will be ajudicated and it will be found unconstitutional and the city that enforced the law will be sued for violating Mr. Hoyes ‘rights’. Well Mr. Hoye, may not seek damages. He may just seek compensation for his legal fees.
At any rate the city will be out a considerable sum of money because their elected officials did not respect Mr. Hoyes right to dissent.
SZ you knew all that already, but you do not care because you have no sense of justice. When it is you who is being trampled by the system it will be people like Mr. Hoye who come to your defense, not because they agree with you, but because they love justice.
yor bro ken
The jsil he is in is called “Santa Rita”…Saint Rita is a cannonized saint for “impossible causes”…He has a great saint interceding for him.
I stood with Walter on the platform at the West Coast Walk for Life. He is a very holy, godly man. God will use him and the amazing thing is this, Walter will be able to witness to the many black men there about the genocide of their race. God will raise up an army in the most unusal place…this placed called jail…and yet Walter is the truly freed man.
Moderators:
He’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
Do you know who I mean?
Zombie,
Do you like opera?
TheSingingZombie may be Somg. the IP is from NYC.
May God-Bless Walter Hoye.
..
This kind of injustice will not go on.
Ah, it’s attack of the spammers!
If I walk onto a church property and start telling them to f-off and quit molesting children, i would rightfully be hauled away. Simply because you THINK youre a man of God doesn’t give you the right to go onto the property of a medical facility and start telling them you know what is best for their patients. You don’t. The fool\tool wouldn’t listen, so they hauled his ass away. Have fun in jail, “Rev.”.
His 30 day sentence to him, I’m sure, is no big deal. He is continuing to spread the word of Jesus to the other prisoners.
God love this good and righteous MAN !
Good morning all. Yes, my guess is The Singing Zombie is old friend SOMG. I’m leaving his posts because so many have responded to them before we caught him, but I’m banning his IP now.
Do people still not realize that SingingZombie is SoMG?
Thank you, Walter Hoye!! God bless you and your powerful witness to the covenant with death that is abortion!! I am praying for you!!
It seems that a lot of people have missed something: Reverend Hoye was on public property. A sidewalk. Everyone’s allowed on a sidewalk. The recourse the “clinic” had was to get a restraining order, perhaps, but why should there be a law granting specific protections to a specific type of facility? Should the Catholic Church lobby for a law to keep anyone from mentioning gay marriage within a certain distance of premises owned by them? Should my mother-in-law be able to get a law passed to keep her neighbors from putting up political signs for the opposing candidate when she runs for office? Should animal-testing facilities be able to get specific laws passed which prohibit PETA protestors near their facilities?
From what is here, I cannot see that Hoye did anything wrong. He had a sign, and respectfully asked woman if they wanted to talk. Nothing he did expressed hate or violence. His sign talked about whom Jesus loves–a legitimate religious expression–and he asked people who passed him on the sidewalk a polite question.
How is this different from holding a sign that says Vote Obama-Vote Change in a public place, and asking passersby if they want to know more about Obama? How is it worse than setting up a table that says “Autism Awareness” and asking those who pause if they would like to donate? How is it different than gathering outside the capitol building holding signs that say “Bring the Troops Home” and asking any legislators entering what they are going to do about that issue?
Why restrict one group’s right to free speech about a certain facility or practice? How is that right, Constitutional, or American?
I wonder if Reverend Hoye was a WHITE preacher, if he would have been treated the exact same way?
Rosa Parks refusal to move to the back of the bus sparked a civil rights movement and a boycott of a transportation system.
We must refuse to allow this injustice to continue.
If anyone shouts profanity on PRIVATE church property, they have problems, not the Church.
Excellent points, YCW.
If anyone shouts profanity on PRIVATE church property, they have problems, not the Church.
Posted by: LizFromNebraska at March 24, 2009 8:32 AM
– If anyone pickets a PRIVATE medical facility simply for offering medical assistance they surely have problems.
Do people still not realize that SingingZombie is SoMG?
Posted by: Bobby Bambino at March 24, 2009 6:52 AM
SoMG was banned. Zombie should have been banned, IMO. I wasn’t suspicious until he started getting very technical about chemicals, laboratory stuff, etc…. Apparently Jill is taking care of it.
We’ve written to Walter.
Good for him!