The Cumberland County (Pa.) Muslim judge who reprimanded an atheist who brought charges against a Muslim man for allegedly attacking him during the Mechanicsburg Halloween Parade, Oct. 11, 2011 has been subject to a “private rebuke of his behavior” by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Judicial Conduct Board, WorldNetDaily.Com has reported.
The atheist, Ernest Perce V, wore a “zombie Muhammed” costume during the parade which allegedly prompted Tallag Elbayomy to storm from the sidewalk and pull a sign off his neck.
Perce is the state director of American Atheists.
Perce went to police and after an investigation in which police said Elbayomy confirmed there was physical contact, harassment charges were filed against Elbayomy. The charge was dismissed at a Dec. 6 preliminary hearing before Magisterial Judge Mark Martin who told Perce, among other things, that “What you’ve done is you’ve completely trashed their essence, their being. They find it very, very offensive. I’m a Muslim. I find offensive.”
Since the incident Perce has reportedly received 471 verifiable threats.
According to WorldNetDaily, Joseph A. Massa Jr., the chief counsel for the Judicial Conduct Board, said a letter has been sent to Martin stating: The board recently concluded its investigation regarding the complaint you filed against Magisterial District Judge Mark Martin, Cumberland County. The board voted to issue a letter of caution to Judge Martin as a private rebuke of his behavior and, thereafter, to close the case.
Perce recorded the hearing and has placed it on YouTube embedded below:
Although I respect your right to protest and all that I think your intentional public display of disrespect for religion is uncalled for especially in a halloween parade. How callous, self centered and childish of you…believe what you want (or not want) and do so privately and leave those of us who wish to believe in a higher being alone.
Honey badger doesn’t give a poo poo. Let them settle it among themselves.
You are right in that what Perce did is despicable but a just law aimed at maintaining public order must be enforced and enforced in a fashion equal to all.
Running into a parade and confronting, much less coming into physical contact with, a marcher, as Elbayomy was accused of doing, is a violation of legitimate law and order.
Judge Martin, by his public comments, gave troubling indication that he was more concerned about Elbayomy’s feelings — and perhaps his own feelings — than the law or Perce’s right to be an ass.
One honestly wonders if the viewpoints had been reversed — or involved another religion — would Martin ruled as he did.
I believe Martin should be removed from the Bench, as he has proven through this that he is not capable of adjudicating “in good Behavior.” (US Const. Art. III)
His referencing Islam and its influence in other countries shows he is well aware of it being a *political* guide for society rather than religious and goes against the enlightenment of Western civilization. Islamists are like termites, burrowing their way into all areas and destroying all it infects.