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Published: February 18, 2009
“We ought to stand with him”
African-American pro-life leaders across U.S. on their way to Oakland to support beleaguered pastor facing jail time for trying to save babies from abortion
Leaders of the Black pro-life movement from across the U.S. have announced they will be traveling to Oakland for tomorrow’s scheduled sentencing hearing for Rev. Walter Hoye, the pro-life Baptist pastor from Berkeley who faces up to two years in jail and $4000 in fines following his conviction on two counts of “unlawful approach” in violation of Oakland’s restrictive new ‘bubble law.’
 Hoye had initially been charged with four counts of violating the ordinance – two counts of “unlawful approach” and two counts of using “force, threat of force or physical obstruction” against ‘escorts’ at Family Planning Specialists Clinic in Oakland. The charges stemmed from two separate incidents – one on April 29, 2008 and one on May 13, 2008. Hoye was arrested on May 13 after a clinic staff member called police. He was carrying a 40-inch sign that read, "Jesus Loves You & Your Baby. Let Us Help You," and attempting to hand out pro-life literature.
A regular fixture at the clinic and an outspoken opponent of the “bubble law,” Hoye had challenged the constitutionality of the ordinance in a federal lawsuit pre-dating his arrest. He had become a top target for the clinic staff.
Alameda Superior Court Judge Stuart Hing dismissed one count of using “force, threat of force or physical obstruction” before the trial got under way on Jan. 5. After deliberating for about two days, the jury found Hoye guilty on Jan. 15 of two counts of “unlawful approach,” but not guilty on the remaining “threat of force” count.
Hoye is scheduled to appear for sentencing tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Hing in Department 109 (5th Floor), 661 Washington St., in Oakland.
“We’re coming here because Black pastors and bishops around this country are just learning of Walter’s fate and to silence the Gospel is unacceptable,” said Rev. Johnny Hunter, president of Life Education And Resources Network (LEARN), a prominent African American pro-family, pro-life organization with members in 27 states. “It violates the freedom of speech of every Christian in this nation.”
“We see brother Hoye standing for life and we ought to stand with him,” said Dr. Levon Yuille of Ypsilanti, Mich., president of the National Black Pro-Life Congress.
More than a third (37 percent) of pregnancies for black women ended in abortion, compared with 12 percent for non-Hispanic white women and 19 percent for Hispanic women in 2004, according to an April 14, 2008 report by the National Center for Health Statistics, a division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2004, 453,000 black babies were aborted while 418,000 white and 269,000 Hispanic babies were aborted, according to the federal report.
“This is a deliberate attempt to silence the Church and its prophetic role in protecting the innocent lives in our community and especially Black babies,” said Pastor Stephen Broden of Dallas, Texas. “Pastor Hoye represents a legacy of resistance by Black preachers to injustices perpetrated on the beloved community. Prenatal murder of Black babies by the abortion industry should be resisted by every black pastor across this country.”
Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 4:51 AM By Fr. M.P.
Pray for true justice to be served, and for the judge. You can imagine the culture of death pressure on said judge.
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Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 5:30 AM By St. Christopher
Well, Margaret Sanger is getting her way. Abortion, in addition to its intrinsic evil, is black genocide. Too bad Jesse Jackson wanted to become a national political figure before changing his tune on abortion -- he was terrific. Rev. Hoye is a holy man, Catholic or not, and all Christians should rally to him.
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Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:44 AM By Eileen
Mark from PA, This is a valuable story to send to your friend who felt such inner joy during the Inauguration of the first black man for President. Pastor Hoye is suffering grave injustice for defending the unborn. The black Pastors that are joining Pastor Hoye to show their support understand that it is not time to celebrate because of the thousands of black babies being murdered in the womb. President Obama our first black President supports this evil injustice to not only black babies but babies of all races. Please forward this story to your friend and let us know what she thinks about this evil injustice. Shouldn't the virtuous moral content of one's character be the cause of celebration or just the exterior color of a person's skin?
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Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 9:16 AM By John Zakharia
The United States Catholic Bishops must be there and every Catholic must get involved. The world is watching
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Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 9:26 AM By Sharon
We need to stand with him!
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Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 10:47 AM By St. Christopher
To: John Z., you are right -- great idea. Where are those bishops? Surprise!! Not with Rev. Hoye. I would guess that we might all see some mumbling, mish-mash of a statement from some conference or other, but no concrete action, such as attending his sentencing, or issuing a statement in his support. Evil, evil, evil -- abortion is evil and those that support it should be called out and rejected as responsible, moral persons (and who should never be voted for).
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Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 1:40 PM By OneoftheSheep
The video clearly depicts that the ones exercising the "force, threat of force, physical approach",etc are the clinic escorts and I am all in favor of putting the escorts away for two years and giving them a $2,000 fine for violating the law. How about some justice?
As for Reverend Hoye, I intend to be there just as if I had had the opportunity to be at the phony trial condemning my Savior Jesus Christ to death. No different, folks. We have a chance to witness Barabas of the abortion industry being let off the hook while Jesus pays the price. Be there. Pray. Offer sacrifice. In the not too distant future, it may be you on trial. Think about that.
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Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 1:46 PM By Elizabeth
Everyone-
We don't always know what goes on 'behind the scenes' witih the Bishops and the Catholic Church in general.
I do know that pro-life people in the Archdiocese of San Francisco have been supporting Rev. Walter in prayers and donations for legal fees....that I know for a FACT!!
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Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 3:22 PM By Susan
As a clergy abuse survivor, I have learned that, if one is to get one's point across, it is important to make a Visible, Dignified and Committed Presence. The days of listless apathy among Lay Catholics have come to an end. If children are to be saved, be it from all forms of abuse, or from the abortionist's knife, we must stand together; not only for life, but for a quality of life that all human beings, especially children, deserve.
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Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:28 PM By Victoria
BRAVO, SUSAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted Thursday, February 19, 2009 9:24 AM By Leona Miller
Life is a true gift from God let us work and pray to save each life given our young mothers to be
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Posted Thursday, February 19, 2009 5:00 PM By Loretta
We have to PRAY daily for these aborted babies & the abortionists to realize that the are commiting murder every time they preform an abortion. We Christians have to continue to peacefully picket infront of this abortion clinics.My prayers are with you Rev. Hoye & the Judge. God Bless You.
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Posted Thursday, February 19, 2009 7:54 PM By Mark from PA
Eileen, I hope and pray that having a black man as President will give hope to many black women. The hope to choose life for their children. It is tragic that so many black children are destroyed. Perhaps this will turn around. We can only pray.
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Posted Thursday, February 19, 2009 10:43 PM By Anne T.
I hope a lot of people showed up, and this man is in my prayers.
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Posted Friday, February 20, 2009 11:18 AM By Jimmimac
Rev. Hoye, I salute you, I wish I could stand in the dock with you. I would feel proud if the Catholic bishops of the Bay Area would shoulder the cross with you, as the Catholic faithful do.
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Posted Friday, February 20, 2009 10:14 PM By JLS
Must be the cynical judge's sense of humor to sentence Rev Hoye to community service ... what does that judge imagine that Rev. Hoye was doing, if not community service? BTW, what qualifies as community service? What about putting some pro-life operations into the community service category. Or does it means wearing orange vests and picking up trash along the freeways? This judge seems to be wasting community assets in putting a man like Hoye to work in some disrespectful capacity.
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Posted Friday, February 20, 2009 10:16 PM By christinatrombetta
What an example of a brave resolute man standing for women and the unborn. We need more men ready to defend women and sacrifice their very lives for this war against women and children. You are truelly a hero Rev. Hoye. May you one day join the saints in heaven for being a present day warrior.
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