Berks County News

Damon Atkins said he was arrested June 3 at a Pride event in Reading, Penn., for reciting a Bible verse aloud, an event captured on video by a witness.

The witness and videographer, Matthew Wear of Reading, runs the YouTube account BarelyPreacherMan, said he came across a Pride rally at the city hall building. He saw a few Christian protestors and got out of the car to join them. On a YouTube video posted by Wear, he said he was able to preach the gospel “for about 12 minutes” before he was stopped by some of the police officers who told him to cease or else he could be arrested. Wear said he continued to stand on the sidewalk across the road from city hall.

"It looks like some more men just showed up to support us," Wear said. "This cop’s going to give them a hard time."

Wear's video shows two other men approaching on the sidewalk, one of whom was Damon Atkins. He and his companion joined the small group of protesters, and Police Sgt. Bradley T. McClure is seen walking up to them as they joined the group. Wear made sure to film the encounter, in which McClure is heard warning the two men to respect the group across the street. On the video, Atkins tells the officer, “You do you, and I’ll do me. This is public property,” gesturing to the sidewalk he stood on.  

Following the warning, Atkins started to speak again, saying “God is …” before he was immediately confronted by McClure and other officers, and eventually handcuffed. Wear filmed the entire encounter, in which the officers detained Atkins and led him away down the block as protestors cheered.             

 An affidavit of probable cause from McClure read that Atkins “resumed yelling derogatory comments to the people at the event” after McClure’s initial warning, and charged Atkins with disorderly conduct/engage in fighting.

Atkins gave a statement to The Lancaster Patriot to explain he was simply trying to recite a Bible verse, and that he was not saying anything derogatory. Atkins told The Patriot he is due to appear in court June 16, and  said he is hoping Alliance Defending Freedom will represent him, and that he does not regret protesting the Pride rally and will continue to defend his values.