More than 16 months after a Vancouver street preacher was arrested for broadcasting his religious beliefs, the charges have been dropped, and now his lawyer is taking legal action against the Crown for allegedly violating his Charter rights..Steven Brown was charged with mischief and causing a disturbance in July 2021 following a long running series of complaints levelled against Brown and other street preachers who’d been, according to complainants, expressing “homophobic” and “distressing” messages..“The anti-2SLGBTQ+ preaching that has been occurring in the Davie Village is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I’m hearing from the community and working to put in place policies to address the harm that has been caused. Hate has no place in Vancouver,” then mayor Kennedy Stewart said in a September 2020 statement..City Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung also called the street preacher’s actions “hurtful” and “egregious.”.Brown, who’d been posting up in high traffic areas around Vancouver, reiterates he never impeded anyone or blocked traffic, noting his only intentions were to "respectfully share the truth of God,” occasionally doing so with a microphone, which is permitted within the 70 decibel daytime limit..The Vancouver Police Department concluded that there was nothing illegal about the street preacher’s activities, which, as noted by Brown’s lawyer Carol Crosson, are protected by the Charter..Nonetheless, he was arrested. The trial, prior to Brown’s case getting axed, was set for December 12-15 in Vancouver..Crosson has since filed an application against the Crown due to there being “no reasonable and probable grounds to arrest and charge Brown,” with the organization supporting her, Freedoms and Rights Advocate, further adding that Brown's rights to freedom of religion and expression had been violated..“I think the big problem with churches today is that they do not go out to the streets. They stay inside their walls and just hope that people will come and join them on Sundays or for a pizza social or something,” Brown told the Western Standard, adding that he's not supported by any churches in the area..“The leaders of churches in Vancouver need to lead by example. They need to go out there.".Calling Vancouver a particularly “wicked” city, Brown felt it was important to specifically highlight the New Testament verses of Matthew 24: 37-39 as being “relevant to today’s generation,” and now that his case has been tossed, he’s already out sharing that message again..“There is something inside of some people that just does not like what I am saying. They do lash out sometimes, but it is rare. I’m not really worried about it,” he said..Crosson also defended Toronto street preacher David Lynn, who was arrested in 2019 under similar circumstances. Lynn’s charges were also axed shortly before trial.
