GotZoom
Senior Member
Not drug dealing. Not prostitution. Not selling alcohol to minors.
They are investigating the skating rink for....(I can barely bring myself to say this)....for....
Playing Christian Music.
You can't tell me that Christians and their beliefs aren't under attack.
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Washington, DC The Traditional Values Coalition asked New York Governor George Pataki to rein in a state agency which is threatening legal action against an Accord, New York skating rink because it plays Christian music during a Christian Music Skate party.
The New York Division of Human Rights threatened Len and Terry Bernardo, owners of the Skate Time 209 rink in Accord, with an investigation because the rink plays Christian music during certain hours. The agency also threatened to charge a local newspaper which advertised the event for aiding and abetting unlawful discrimination.
This is crazy, said TVC Chairman Rev. Louis P. Sheldon. These people are exercising basic Constitutional rights on private property to the exclusion of no one and the state government is treating them like dangerous criminals.
Aiding and abetting? It is the responsibility of every citizen to aid and abet the free exercise of religion, free speech, the right to assemble and private property rights.
New Yorkers have never been intimidated by international thugs and terrorists and they should not tolerate this bureaucratic attempt to violate their most basic civil rights.
I have asked Governor Pataki to take authority over this illegal attempt to manipulate the law to accomplish a violation of basic civil rights. I will be watching closely to see that the Bernardos rights are protected.
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Copy of letter:
June 21, 2006
Transmitted by Fax
Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Pataki:
I was shocked to learn that a business operated by supporters of our Coalition has been threatened with legal action by the State of New York Executive Department, Division of Human Rights for holding a Christian Music Skate party at a private roller rink they operate in Accord, New York.
Sir, I cannot believe that any reasonable person would feel that the mere act of playing Christian music during certain hours when the Skate Time 209 skating rink is open for business amounts to some form of discrimination.
The section of the New York State law cited by Division of Human Rights General Counsel Gina M. Lopez Summa deals with those who refuse, withhold from or deny access to someone.
The rinks proprietors Len and Terry Bernardo assure me that no one has ever been denied entrance to their privately-owned skating rink nor have they discouraged anyone from patronizing their rink because of their religious beliefs.
The only difference between the Christian Music Skate Time and all other times at the rink is that the former involves the playing of Christian contemporary music. There are no special discounts for Christian skaters and no one is denied access to the rink if they are not Christian.
Governor, please take action immediately to halt this action against the Bernardos and to reassure all New Yorkers that their First Amendment right to the free exercise of their religious beliefs and other rights related to private property and the right to assemble are not in jeopardy.
New Yorkers have demonstrated such courage and tenacity in dealing with international threats to their freedom. There is a reason why the amendment which guaranteed religious liberty and freedom of expression was the First Amendment.
Please halt this harassment immediately.
Sincerely,
Rev. Louis Sheldon
Chairman
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2756
They are investigating the skating rink for....(I can barely bring myself to say this)....for....
Playing Christian Music.
You can't tell me that Christians and their beliefs aren't under attack.
-----
Washington, DC The Traditional Values Coalition asked New York Governor George Pataki to rein in a state agency which is threatening legal action against an Accord, New York skating rink because it plays Christian music during a Christian Music Skate party.
The New York Division of Human Rights threatened Len and Terry Bernardo, owners of the Skate Time 209 rink in Accord, with an investigation because the rink plays Christian music during certain hours. The agency also threatened to charge a local newspaper which advertised the event for aiding and abetting unlawful discrimination.
This is crazy, said TVC Chairman Rev. Louis P. Sheldon. These people are exercising basic Constitutional rights on private property to the exclusion of no one and the state government is treating them like dangerous criminals.
Aiding and abetting? It is the responsibility of every citizen to aid and abet the free exercise of religion, free speech, the right to assemble and private property rights.
New Yorkers have never been intimidated by international thugs and terrorists and they should not tolerate this bureaucratic attempt to violate their most basic civil rights.
I have asked Governor Pataki to take authority over this illegal attempt to manipulate the law to accomplish a violation of basic civil rights. I will be watching closely to see that the Bernardos rights are protected.
-----
Copy of letter:
June 21, 2006
Transmitted by Fax
Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Pataki:
I was shocked to learn that a business operated by supporters of our Coalition has been threatened with legal action by the State of New York Executive Department, Division of Human Rights for holding a Christian Music Skate party at a private roller rink they operate in Accord, New York.
Sir, I cannot believe that any reasonable person would feel that the mere act of playing Christian music during certain hours when the Skate Time 209 skating rink is open for business amounts to some form of discrimination.
The section of the New York State law cited by Division of Human Rights General Counsel Gina M. Lopez Summa deals with those who refuse, withhold from or deny access to someone.
The rinks proprietors Len and Terry Bernardo assure me that no one has ever been denied entrance to their privately-owned skating rink nor have they discouraged anyone from patronizing their rink because of their religious beliefs.
The only difference between the Christian Music Skate Time and all other times at the rink is that the former involves the playing of Christian contemporary music. There are no special discounts for Christian skaters and no one is denied access to the rink if they are not Christian.
Governor, please take action immediately to halt this action against the Bernardos and to reassure all New Yorkers that their First Amendment right to the free exercise of their religious beliefs and other rights related to private property and the right to assemble are not in jeopardy.
New Yorkers have demonstrated such courage and tenacity in dealing with international threats to their freedom. There is a reason why the amendment which guaranteed religious liberty and freedom of expression was the First Amendment.
Please halt this harassment immediately.
Sincerely,
Rev. Louis Sheldon
Chairman
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2756
