Pro-Life Pastor Walter Hoye Begins 30-Day 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 94568-3309Visitation Schedule - Housing Unit 34
Thursday 12:00p - 3:00p
Saturday 12:00p - 3:00p
Sunday 6:00p - 9:00p
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I wonder if there may be more to this story. Was he just talking to the clinic goers or was he screaming at them or harrassing them?
Chosing jail was his choice, I would think that he could make more of a difference if he was out, on the streets, and perhaps set up some kind of clinic himself ..... maybe free counseling and free medical care for those seeking abortions.
Very good point.
According to what we read in the OP, which shouldn't be fully dismissed due to whom the author happens to be, he was being peaceful. It should not be dismissed because other sources make identical claims. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f =/c/a/2009/03/21/BAGO16KF9J.DTL for example.
Also, there are youtube clips of this guy in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcKPndbwKsg
The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.
been given more time in jail. If this were any other clinic for any other type of medical advice he would be looked at as a lunatic. Imagine someone walking up to woman at clinics for cosmetic surgery and asking them "hey can I talk to you about the alternatives to breast implants?"
If someone did keep doing that they would also get arrested and face a possible restraining order.
He's a pastor, he can talk to his congregation anytime he wants and not bother other people with his moral views. He's sounds just like a politician grand-standing on an issue; I would have thought that a pastor who wants to help people would have been pleased to do community service, but no he wants to become a modern martyr.
there are so many flaws in all of your arguments that I can't even begin to think of where start. You identify the security of the White House in direct correlation with a place where babies are killed on a daily basis. You indicate that having breast implants is the same as killing an unborn child. You say that people who advocate for pro life are violent, when we have not killed nearly as many people that abortion doctors have (by the way is in the millions). You know nothing about the constitution, both you and I have to right to free speech regardless of jurisdiction as long as it does not impeed upon the safety of other civilans.
...Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did pretty much the same thing. And he was a Reverend. Many clergy members of many churches "bothered other people with their moral views," rather than stay in Church "talking to their congregations" during the Civil Rights movement.
He bothered many clergy members and churches with his view of Blacks as equals.
You're kidding. I had no idea that he bothered many other religious leaders with his message. That doesn't change the fact that he was a religious leader himself. Also, look at the experts in any of the abortion debates, in every one of them there is a Christian group advocating abortion that this man "bothered."
know which side resorted to violence more often. If we were to draw a correlation between the civil rights movement and the abortion issue one could possibly say that like the racist bombers of the south who blew up Black churches, the same type of people have bombed and clinics and shot doctors.
However, like you have mentioned to me before about historical sight being 20/20 so are moral values at gun point.
The fact is, he broke a law because others have abused the free space. I don't think he would personally bomb a clinic: he just has to realize that there are people who would. His freedom of speech is no more attacked from 9 feet away than the hundreds of yards away that the White House is protected.
No issue is 100% black and white (pun intended). After all, one could argue that an abortion is an act of violence. You would disagree, but it could be argued. And don't forget, there were bombings, lynchings, and murders committed in the name of both sides. Not everyone in the Civil Rights movement was as peacable as the good Dr. (Malcolm X, Black Panthers, among others)
He did break the law. And the law was valid. He had no right to hurt their business like that. That being said, I still think he did the right thing, despite the fact that he deserves his sentence. Sometimes, things are worth breaking the law for.
it all depends on the which side we stand. Isn't there an expression or saying that goes something like, one man's terrorist is another man's hero? Our perspectives are always personal and subjective.