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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Street Preacher Sues CNN

ATLANTA (CN) - A Christian street preacher claims a CNN security guard assaulted him as he tried to preach to football fans. Dick Christensen claims he was held for three hours, and when he was released, "it was too late for him to continue his ministry and would not have the opportunity to witness to the particular group attending the SEC Championship game."

Christensen said he "preached and held up a banner on Dec. 6, 2008 on a public sidewalk outside CNN headquarters to crowds heading to the SEC [Southeastern Conference] Championship game."

Christensen said he was approached by Turner Broadcasting System security guard Anthony Gibbs, a defendant, and other security guards. They told him that if he didn't move from the private property, he would be arrested.

After replying that the sidewalk was a "public forum" and that he had preached there before, Gibbs knocked him down, threatened to arrest him, handcuffed him and took him to a room inside CNN headquarters, Christensen says. He says he was held for nearly three hours, and "when he was finally let go, it was too late for him to continue his ministry and would not have the opportunity to witness to the particular group attending the SEC Championship game."

A video of the incident can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYurINFg2wk

Christensen is represented by S. Fenn Little with Little, Crumly & Chambliss.

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