Philly Jesus On Disorderly Conduct Arrest: 'Haters Gonna Hate'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- "Philly Jesus" is not done fighting his arrest for disorderly conduct.
Michael Grant, commonly known as "Philly Jesus," and his lawyer, Charles Gibbs, talked with WPHT host Dom Giordano about his ordeal over the weekend with police in LOVE Park.
"What we have here is a classic situation where the officer did not give my client a lawful order to leave the park, but he tried to impose his will…It's shocking that just a few blocks from where the Constitution was signed, my client can't stand in a public square and talk to people about the gospel of Jesus Christ without the interference of the police department or any government agency." Gibbs said.
As a street performer, Grant relies solely on the money that he makes off of taking pictures with people while in character. He tells Dom Giordano that his inspiration to become "Philly Jesus" happened during his recovery from crack cocaine addiction, when he "found Jesus Christ".
"I grew up in the theater -- doing music theater at a very young age. It was instilled in me at a very young age to have a natural talent for the stage. So, when I started following the Lord Jesus Christ, and I gave my heart to the Lord, I decided to use that passion for the performing arts that I had for the glory of Jesus Christ. So the same way that I bring the stories of Jesus to the movies or the big screen, I bring it to the street as a street performer... After watching, like, constant movies on Jesus, I was like, 'Yo, that would be pretty cool if I could bring that to the streets of Philadelphia.'"
Even though he dresses up as a religious figure for a living, he maintains that he is not a fan of religion.
"Personally, I'm not religious. I actually hate religion. I can't stand religion because religion says you gotta do this and do that and God will love you. Jesus Christ, he says 'done, just believe in me.' Jesus said it is finished, and all you got to do is believe in Jesus Christ. I do what I do for Jesus Christ alone...I'm a born-again Christian."
As popular in LOVE Park as he may be, "Philly Jesus" is well aware that his detractors go beyond the arresting police officer Gibbs feels was holding a grudge due to his client's drug filled past.
"A lot of people show me love, but you're always going to have your haters. Haters gonna hate."