Reply #51: They WERE Charged with misdemeanors [View All]

The felony was the hate crime -- that is Pennsylvania law. Their physical actions were not felonies. The intention of their actions was the felony. And, I agree with it legally... if you have a hate crime law on the book, then this fits it. PA does.

If this was, say, a NAACP group meeting, and this Fundie group went and disrupted them and intimidated, then read Bible verses condoning slavery, it would be the same thing. The physical actions were misdemeanors, but the intent was a felony under PA law. IE, it was done against a specific class.

Alot of people disagree with hate crime legislation, but since PA has the law, it's a legitimate legal charge.