A pro-life activist has been detained by police for preaching the gospel outside an abortion clinic in Ohio. Despite facing criminal charges, Christian bravely returned to the abortion clinic to offer pregnant women an alternative and save the life of their unborn child.
Zach Knotts and his wife spent three Saturdays in December preaching the gospel outside the Northeast Ohio Women's Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, about eight miles from Akron. A Christian couple vowed to pregnant women to choose life.
“I preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I warn people of the wrath that will come if they do not repent. But I always say, “I have good news.'' In Christ you have hope. ”
Zach and Lindsey Knotts were at an abortion clinic providing pregnant women with resources to sway their opinions about aborting their babies.
“There are resources available for free,” Zach said. daily signal. “We reached out to adoption agencies and some pregnancy resource centers and got some information. A folder with literally everything we would need if they were able to come to us. and we're holding it up in the air.”
The Knotts are passionate about their pro-life mission and are willing to adopt babies that would otherwise have been aborted.
“I think one of the biggest things we can do to prove that is by adopting children who would otherwise have been killed and loving them and showing them Christ and showing them what they need.” It's about welcoming them into a family that gives them everything,'' Knotts said.
“Knowing that God used us to save that baby will be the greatest thing in the world and the greatest victory of our lives,” he explained. “The Lord used us to help us survive by holding our baby that week.”
The Knotts have a 3-year-old child.
Knotts was preaching the gospel on the sidewalk outside the Northeast Ohio Women's Center on Dec. 28.
“There is hope for all of you in the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Knotts said.
Lindsey Knotts captured video This is the moment when the police interrupt Zack and ask him to come with him.
Officers charged Knotts with disorderly conduct.
Knotts follows the policeman's orders. He walks to the police car and gets in.
Knotts has vowed to sue the two officers, the police department and the city of Cuyahoga Falls for violating his First Amendment rights.
Lindsay is seen on video asking a police officer what crimes her husband committed, and the officer responds, “We have received complaints that he is causing trouble and anxiety to others. I have recordings of him doing this, and it's clearly against the law.” Here in the city of Cuyahoga Falls, we don't allow that under disorderly conduct. ”
Another police officer is heard telling Zach, “There's a lot of people complaining about you.”
Lindsey said of the incident: “My first emotion was pure shock. He stood on a public sidewalk and begged the guards and the women, telling them the good news of the gospel, that they would be forgiven, and that they would be forgiven. We have free resources for them.”
Knotts was charged with disorderly conduct.
According to the misdemeanor complaint, Knotts “intentionally used a megaphone to create noise; [inconvenience] Alert passersby of the women's clinic. ”
Disturbing behavior at Cuyahoga Falls Ordinance 509.03(a)(6) “Any person who, by reason of employment, agency or otherwise, is the owner or owner or manager of a vehicle or facility, makes unreasonable or loud noises that are likely to cause an unreasonable or nuisance; Allowing that to happen.” The use of radios, phonographs, televisions, tape players, speakers, and other sound amplifying devices, or with horns, drums, pianos, and other musical and percussion instruments to express ordinary sensibilities. ”
Knotts said. live-action“This charge is based on the allegation that my sermons ‘disturbed’ passersby, which is a completely subjective basis for restricting free speech. This action was taken despite my clear constitutional right to free expression, which we firmly believe is a violation of the First and Fourth Amendments. Article. ”
Zach said, “I preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I warn people that wrath will come if they do not repent. But I always say there is good news. In Christ, you have There is hope.''
Nevertheless, the Knotts defied the authorities and returned to the clinic this Saturday to try to offer assistance to pregnant women.
During a recent visit to an abortion clinic, the Knotts were besieged by patient attendants, holding up large umbrellas and blaring kazoos in close proximity to pro-life activists.
The Knotts claim that the screeching of the instruments violates Ordinance 509.03(a)(6). This is the same ordinance that Zack was cited for disorderly conduct.
Ann instagram video Lindsey shows a confrontation with a clinic escort.
However, when a complaint was made to a Cuyahoga Falls Police Department officer about the noise made by kazoos, he responded, “Kazoos are not a nuisance.”
After pointing out that the ordinance specifically mentions “musical or percussion instruments,” the officer said he still would not enforce the ordinance until local residents complained. The police officer argued that because the pro-life activists were on the sidewalk, they “didn't qualify as residents at all.”
Knotts told Blaze News: “The Cuyahoga Falls Police Department refused to enforce the same ordinance on the guards that they enforced on me. There was clear bias, and now we have a constitutional amendment. “This is a violation of Article 14 rights.”
“I've always had great respect for the police, but I believe they should be held to the same standards as all of us, and they will be held accountable when they're wrong,” Knott said. emphasized Blaze News. “Any repression will only get worse if we don't hold them accountable. Subjective and arbitrary ordinances are unconstitutional and give police the ability to do exactly this. It's always wrong and it needs to change. ”
The Cuyahoga Falls Police Department declined to comment to the Daily Signal.
At his first court appearance Thursday, Knotts pleaded not guilty. His hearing is scheduled for January 9th.
Do you like Blaze News? Avoid censorship and sign up for our newsletter to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Register here!
