Authorities in Reading, Pennsylvania, made a surprising decision not to pursue charges against Damon Atkins, a self-proclaimed Christian “street preacher” who was arrested for quoting Bible verses in opposition to an LGBTQ Pride event.
The Berks County District Attorney’s Office reviewed video evidence and subsequently withdrew the charges of disorderly conduct against Atkins, citing the videos and applicable case law.
Commissioner Christian Leinbach of Berks County deemed Atkins’ arrest “unlawful” and raised concerns about potential legal action against the City of Reading and its police department.
Matthew Wear, a resident of Reading, captured the interaction between Atkins and the police officer, including the arrest, on camera.
Atkins can be seen in the video quoting Bible passages to the crowd, which consisted of drag queens and children. He engaged in a conversation with Sgt. Bradley McClure, asserting that the location was public property, with McClure concurring.
Atkins’s remarks include shouting, “God cares!” at one point, while McClure is heard on camera saying, “Let them have their day.”
The police officer advises Atkins to be mindful of his audience and requests that he show proper decorum. Atkins holds a sign that reads, “Jesus said go and sin no more” to express his views.
Atkins asks the officer, “You know who’s cheering for us?” and goes on to say, “The people that are in hell. You do you, and I’ll do me.”
In the video, McClure initially walks away but then turns back to Atkins, who continues quoting scripture. The officer abruptly informs Atkins that he is done and proceeds to handcuff him.
The footage shows Atkins handing his sign to another demonstrator before being told that he cannot give his bag to another individual. Onlookers at the Pride festival appear to cheer the arrest.
Wear, who recorded the video, expresses his disbelief at witnessing the events unfold.
Atkins tries to yell, “If God were the creator…” but is interrupted by McClure, who leads him away.
According to one source, Atkins may have been attempting to quote 1 Corinthians 14:33, which states, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
In the police complaint, McClure states that Atkins “began to yell to the people at the event” and that he approached him immediately to inform him that he could hold his sign on that side of the street but should not cross or disrupt the event. Atkins reportedly acknowledged the officer’s instructions.
Less than a minute later, McClure claims that Atkins resumed insulting the event attendees, leading the officer to inform him that he would be arrested for disorderly conduct.
A Reading police officer, speaking to Fox News Digital, mentioned that there was about an hour of interaction between Atkins and McClure before the recorded video, hinting that there might be more to the story.
In an interview with CBN News following the Pride march and his arrest, Atkins explained his comment about people cheering from hell, citing Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19–31.
Atkins emphasized in the interview that his words should not be interpreted as expressions of hatred toward others, stating that he has learned to love others as Jesus loved him. He expressed gratitude to his supporters and shared concerns about recent events.
The case of Damon Atkins and his arrest during the LGBTQ Pride event continues to spark discussions about freedom of speech and the boundaries of expression in public spaces.