Good Afternoon Everyone!
It has been a minute since we've been able to talk about the updates in our case, but as of August 19th, we have officially sued the Hanover Borough Police Department for violating Beck's first amendment rights.
This is a huge first step, but one of many in the coming judicial process. Many have asked how best they can help us here at The Shoppe! We are not currently incurring legal fees as my lawyer Alexa Gervasi has graciously taken my case Pro-Bono, so I haven't set up a donation site like Go-Fund Me. The biggest help is to share this story on social media when it comes across your feed, and a HUGE thank you to everyone who has so far! We couldn't do this without you, and I am really grateful.
Pennsylvania Witches- I'm calling on you! If you feel strongly enough, I encourage you to write an email, call, AND send a letter via snail mail to your local legislators, county legislators, and state legislators.
A dear friend of mine Noelle, drafted a letter one can use as a template to express your concerns. You can find that letter via google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KXDR1QEhTKn6JYymE3IO6S51VChT0Ul0WUe7Bi4hOnU/edit?usp=sharing
And I have included the text below for accessibility:
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
[Legislator's Name]
[Office Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
Dear [Legislator's Name],
I am writing to you today as a concerned Pennsylvania citizen and advocate for the fundamental rights enshrined in our Constitution, particularly the right to free speech and religion. Recently, a troubling situation has developed that represents a significant infringement on this essential liberty.
On or around October 5, 2023, Chief Chad E. Martin of the Hanover Police Department and another officer entered an important community fixture, The Serpent’s Key, in their official uniforms. They proceeded to prevent Beck Rios from exercising their constitutional right to record the interaction and threatened them with $2,500 in fines and up to a year in prison for practicing tarot card readings in their place of business. This threat chilled Beck’s speech (and others like them), negatively impacting businesses and livelihoods, and caused Beck immense stress and anxiety about further harassment and unconstitutional criminal sanctions. Imagine being threatened with imprisonment for engaging in protected speech and a well-established spiritual practice.
This incident is not merely an isolated case but a symptom of a larger problem that stems from 18 Pa. Con. Stat. Ann. § 7104(a)., also known as Pennsylvania’s Fortune Telling Statute. The Fortune Telling Statute, passed in 1861, is an antiquated prior restraint on free speech that selectively discriminates against those engaging in alternative spiritual practices and fails to serve any governmental interest, compelling or otherwise. It discriminates against a great many spiritual traditions and exercises of free speech. Although it has an innocuous name, this law, which discriminates against many spiritual practices, is obviously unconstitutional and represents a foot in the door for future restrictions on religious practice and free speech if not repealed. One individual already felt able to abuse their authority to threaten a valued member of the Hanover community because they were empowered to do so through this outdated and ignorant law. This law discriminates against those who are already marginalized and vulnerable to discrimination with the rising threat of Christian Nationalism. People who practice faith traditions like Wicca, Espiritismo, Hoodoo, Conjure or Root Work, or other practices that involve spellwork are already likely to belong to marginalized racial groups and deserve to engage in their religion without the threat of prison.
I urge you to take immediate action to repeal 18 Pa. Con. Stat. Ann. § 7104(a). and to work towards enacting new legislation that protects the first amendment rights of all citizens, regardless of their viewpoints. This is not just about restoring the rights of those who have been directly affected by this law; it is about affirming our state's commitment to upholding the values of free expression and preventing further discrimination.
In light of these concerns, I respectfully request that you:
1. Introduce or support a bill to repeal the Fortune Telling Statute.
2. Advocate for comprehensive protections that prevent future infringements on First Amendment Rights
3. Engage with community leaders, civil rights organizations, and your fellow legislators to build a coalition dedicated to protecting diversity of religious practice and combating discrimination.
Our state has a proud history of championing civil liberties, and it is incumbent upon us to ensure that this legacy continues. By taking decisive action now, we can correct this injustice and set a powerful precedent for the protection of both free speech and freedom of religion.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I look forward to your leadership and swift action in addressing this urgent issue.
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
_____
Thank you all for your support in this matter. This has been a truly life Altering Experience for me, and I'm grateful it has been so positive in face of so much negativity.