Seattle street preacher Matthew Meinecke was arrested by police officers during a Gay Pride event.
A police officer told Meinecke as he was being arrested, “So at this point we can no longer stand by.”
He added, “The risk that you pose for public safety by remaining here can be mitigated if you leave, it’s your last chance.”
Meinecke replied, “I don’t want to leave because I’m not in danger.”
People cheered as he was put in handcuffs.
Watch the video below:
SPD has enough resources to send 10 police officers to arrest a preacher reading his Bible in a public park. Because it's such a horrible crime now! pic.twitter.com/pytbNDel9I
— The Seattle Preacher (@mattteamjesus) June 27, 2022
Additionally, the street preacher posted a video of some of his Bibles being destroyed.
“Hate Crime this needs to be investigated. I demand someone take actions and press charges. My bibles were destroyed In Hate for my Christian beliefs,” Meinecke tweeted.
Hate Crime this needs to be investigated. I demand someone take actions and press charges. My bibles were destroyed In Hate for my Christian beliefs pic.twitter.com/e4Fas2EDKc
— The Seattle Preacher (@mattteamjesus) June 25, 2022
Meinecke later explained he was “at the Seattle Center, reading the Bible, not aggressively preaching, not stirring people up, not anything.”
He added, “People throwing things. People vandalizing our property. I think about 10 police officers showed up.”
Commenting on the police, Meinecke said, “Your job is not to silence me and move me.”
In his message to critics, Meinecke asked, “Why are they so offended by words? I just believe in using the word of God.”
Pointing to his heart, he added, “So if those words are so offensive then the problem is here. The problem is in you.”
IN COURT: Clerk said no obstruction charge filed so he just left. @mattteamjesus says he was disappointed with @SeattlePD’s decision to arrest him on then refer for charge. But he says he forgives them and plans on going back to preaching on street. #Seattle pic.twitter.com/V6NffVWbTx
— Jonathan Choe Journalist (@choeshow) June 29, 2022
He argued, meanwhile, “We have a bunch of naked people walking around over here, not even 200 feet away. Naked grown men around little children.”
In another video he recorded, Meinecke said, “We’ve got a city full of crime. We’ve got needles all over the place. Lawless homeless camps everywhere. We’ve got assaults. We’ve got broken glass. We’ve got Antifa running the place. But they’ve got time to send in ten police officers to arrest a street preacher reading his Bible in a park.”
In his response to the police, Meinecke explained, “I love the police. I have no problem with the police at all. I mean, I’ve preached to the police, but it’s only salvation.”
HE FORGIVES THEM: @mattteamjesus says he might request @SeattlePD body cams to see what happened during arrests. He says he's positive he did not commit any crimes and continues to support SPD. I asked for police side of story but PIO told me to file public disclosure request. pic.twitter.com/96EC0W7ZTU
— Jonathan Choe Journalist (@choeshow) June 29, 2022
He continued, “It’s only the gospel… I believe that police are fallible human beings just like anyone else and worthy of criticism like everybody else.”
