Baker in spotlight after court win in gay wedding cake case

Jack Phillips seems like an unlikely U.S. Supreme Court plaintiff.

The laconic 62-year-old has quietly run his Masterpiece Cakeshop from a strip mall in suburban Denver for a quarter of a century.

Charlie Craig, left, and David Mullins talk about a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that sets aside a Colorado court decision against a baker who would not make a wedding cake for the same-sex couple as they meet reporters Monday, June 4, 2018, in Denver. The Court has not decided on the larger issue in the case, however--whether a business can refuse to to serve gay and lesbian people. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

That changed, however, when a gay couple asked him to make their wedding cake in 2012 and Phillips said no, citing his religious beliefs.

Now, after winning a partial victory Monday from the high court, Phillips has become a beacon for conservatives who feared a shift toward gay rights could make them an oppressed minority.

"I'm profoundly thankful that the court saw the injustice that the government inflicted on me," Phillips said in a statement issued through his lawyers. "This is a great day for our family, our shop, and for people of all faiths who should not fear government hostility or unjust punishment. Today's decision makes clear that tolerance is a two-way street."

Charlie Craig, front, and David Mullins talk about a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that sets aside a Colorado court decision against a baker who would not make a wedding cake for the same-sex couple as they meet reporters Monday, June 4, 2018, in Denver. The Court has not decided on the larger issue in the case, however--whether a business can refuse to to serve gay and lesbian people. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The justices cited anti-religious bias on the part of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, saying it was unfairly dismissive of Phillips' religious beliefs.

But the court stayed out of the thornier issue of whether people can avoid providing services to same-sex weddings because of religious beliefs

Even so, people streamed into Phillips' cake shop after the ruling came down, embracing him as his phone rang repeatedly with congratulations from people who view him as their champion.

Supporter Ann Sewell, who brought a clutch of congratulatory balloons to the bakery, compared Phillips' bravery to people opposed to the Vietnam War.

Charlie Craig and David Mullins hold hands as they talk about a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that sets aside a Colorado court decision against a baker who would not make a wedding cake for the same-sex couple as they meet reporters Monday, June 4, 2018, in Denver. The Court has not decided on the larger issue in the case, however--whether a business can refuse to to serve gay and lesbian people. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

"If you could be a conscientious objector and not fight in a war then you should be able to hold to your convictions in something as simple as this when it is not hurting anyone," Sewell said. "It might offend someone, but that's life."

The case stems from a brief meeting in 2012 between Phillips and Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins. The couple had just married in Massachusetts and wanted a cake for a celebration in the suburb of Lakewood.

Phillips told the men he'd be happy to sell them other products, but he didn't make wedding cakes for gay marriages.

The newlyweds filed a complaint with the state civil rights commission, which forbid Phillips from refusing service again.

Charlie Craig, front, and David Mullins talk about a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that sets aside a Colorado court decision against a baker who would not make a wedding cake for the same-sex couple as they meet reporters Monday, June 4, 2018, in Denver. The Court has not decided on the larger issue in the case, however--whether a business can refuse to to serve gay and lesbian people. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phillips fought back, appealing that ruling all the way to the Supreme Court. To avoid future liability, he stopped making any wedding cakes — a 40 percent drop in business — and cut his bakery staff of 10 by six people, according to his attorney Kristen Waggoner.

His case is one of several in the legal pipeline in which professionals — video producers, florists, graphic artists — declined to provide services for same-sex weddings. Phillips' case was the first to make it to the high court.

That landed the normally private baker in the spotlight. In November, just before arguments in his case were heard in Washington, Phillips headlined a rally at Colorado Christian University, not far from his bakery.

Baker Jack Phillips, front, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, poses for a photograph with Sebastian Muller, an assistant pastor at Calvary South Denver Church, in Phillips' shop Monday, June 4, 2018, in Lakewood, Colo., after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that he could refuse to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple because his religious beliefs did not violate Colorado's anti-discrimination law. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

He appeared awkward on stage, laughing nervously and his voice rattling as he thanked those attending.

"I love using cakes as a canvas," Phillips continued. "One of the favorite parts of my job is making wedding cakes because it allows me to bring my love of art — painting, sculpting, airbrushing — to create something beautiful and unique to mark the beginning of something held sacred by many."

At the conclusion of his five-minute address, the crowd swarmed around Phillips, touched him and prayed.

Baker Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, manages his shop Monday, June 4, 2018, in Lakewood, Colo., after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that he could refuse to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple because his religious beliefs did not violate Colorado's anti-discrimination law. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Supporters of baker Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, hug inside Phillips' shop Monday, June 4, 2018, in Lakewood, Colo., after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that he could refuse to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple because his religious beliefs did not violate Colorado's anti-discrimination law. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Donation tins sit next to the cash register as a customer picks up a bag of baked goods after paying baker Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, Monday, June 4, 2018, in Lakewood, Colo., following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that he could refuse to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple because his religious beliefs did not violate Colorado's anti-discrimination law. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Baker Jack Phillips, right, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, hugs an unidentified man who was in Phillips' shop Monday, June 4, 2018, in Lakewood, Colo., after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that he could refuse to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple because his religious beliefs did not violate Colorado's anti-discrimination law. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Police received a report at approximately 7:10 pm on January 15, stating that a suspicious man had taken a knife from a shop in Tuen Mun Town Plaza. Promptly arriving at the scene, the Police found the man holding a 12-inch knife on Tuen Wui Street outside the Plaza. At the time, the man was waving the knife at several passersby, causing panic and prompting the public to flee.

The man took a knife from a shop in Tuen Mun Town Plaza. Photo source: Threads@oliviachows

The man held a 12-inch knife on Tuen Wui Street outside Tuen Mun Town Plaza, Photo source: online image

The man waved the knife at several passersby, causing panic and prompting the public to flee. Photo source: online image

Ms. Chung Lai Yee, the Senior Superintendent of Police from Crime New Territories North Headquarters, stated that the Police immediately issued verbal warnings to the man, but to no avail. They then fired pepper spray at him, but the man entered Tuen Mun Town Plaza through an entrance and quickly exited through another. As he exited, he grabbed a female passerby hostage and simultaneously attacked her with the knife he was holding.

Ms. Chung Lai Yee, the Senior Superintendent of Police from Crime New Territories North Headquarters, Photo source: FB of the Hong Kong Police

Ms. Chung mentioned that the Police issued warnings to the man again, but to no avail repeatedly. Two officers of the Emergency Unit each fired a shot at the man. The man fell to the ground after being shot and was immediately subdued by the Police. Immediately rescuing the female hostage, the Police provided first aid to the man, who was then sent to Tuen Mun Hospital for further treatment. The man was pronounced dead at 8:40 pm after resuscitation efforts failed, while the female passerby was also taken to the hospital for treatment with injuries.

Two officers of the Emergency Unit each fired a shot at the man. Photo source: online image

Two officers of the Emergency Unit each fired a shot at the man. Photo source: on-site CCTV

Ms. Chung stated that police subsequently found a packet of suspected dangerous drugs and an extendable baton in the man's shoulder bag. Doctors have found a bullet in the man's body, with gunshot wounds to the chest and right shoulder. The female hostage sustained minor injuries. The Police also searched the scene, finding a bullet hole and two shell casings in the exterior wall of a shop at the shooting location.

Ms. Chung said that according to preliminary investigations, the deceased is a 34-year-old local man holding a Hong Kong identity card, with underworld connections and a previous drug-related criminal conviction. As for the case, the Police reviewed numerous CCTV clips and found no accomplices with him. Drugs were found on the man, raising the possibility that he may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack. The case is currently being followed up by Team 2 of the Regional Crime Unit of New Territories North for further investigation.

Mr. Wong Ho Hon, the Deputy District Commander of Tuen Mun, Photo source: FB of the Hong Kong Police

Mr. Wong Ho Hon, the Deputy District Commander of Tuen Mun, stated that the Police have stringent guidelines regarding the use of firearms. Given the seriousness of the incident, the officers of the Emergency Unit New Territories North opted for immediate tactical intervention. The actions of the two officers fully complied with the Police's requirements for the use of firearms, using them only when there were no other options. Mr. Wong pointed out that the Police undergo rigorous training, making the use of firearms always aimed at the largest part of ​​the body. In this case, both shots did strike the largest part of the body. Moreover, Mr. Wong emphasized that using firearms is an extremely difficult decision for the Police, based on the purpose to save the life of an innocent passerby this time.