Countywide : Trial Opens for 4 Arrested at Speech

Four gay rights activists who went on trial Wednesday for allegedly disrupting a speech by Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) at a seminar about heterosexuality said their actions were protected by the First Amendment.

“This was a political event, our congressman was there. We had a right to express our views,” defendant Dave Barton said after his court appearance.

The defendants are charged with trespassing and conspiracy to trespass--both misdemeanors--in connection with the March 9 incident at the Power Community Church in Anaheim. Barton, 29, of Orange, is charged with an additional count of disturbing the peace.

After listening to testimony and watching a videotaped account of the incident, Municipal Judge Stephen Sundvold dismissed the charges against one defendant, Dave Cammack, because of lack of evidence.

“I’m happy (the charges were dropped), but I’m worried about my friends,” said Cammack, 32, of Orange.

On the day of the seminar, which was entitled “Preservation of the Heterosexual Ethic” and organized by the Rev. Louis P. Sheldon’s Traditional Values Coalition, more than 50 gay rights activists from several groups demonstrated outside the church against the event.

The defendants have been accused of registering for the seminar and disrupting its activities from inside the church.

The prosecutor and defense attorney basically agree about what occurred at the seminar. At some point during Dannemeyer’s speech, Barton rose and began reading Scriptures from the Bible out loud, as Cammack stood by his side. Meanwhile, the other two defendants, Paul Courry, 36, and Larkette L. Lein, 38, both of Irvine, walked to the center platform and held placards denouncing “gay bashing.”

But the attorneys disagree about whether the actions are protected forms of free speech under the First Amendment.

“We’re not arguing the correctness of their speech, we are complaining with the action they took,” said Anaheim Deputy City Atty. Tom Steelman. “They can disagree with what was said, but in the manner that they did it, they unduly suppressed the free speech rights of others.”

Defense attorney John Duran, however, argued that his clients “did not step over the line” of protected speech. He said it was unreasonable for Dannemeyer or anyone to “expect their opponents to be silent when they speak freely.”

The trial is scheduled to continue on Monday in Municipal Court in Fullerton.