Conservative patience with the extra-constitutional Wuhan virus lockdowns finally reached the breaking point on Easter, when elected officials across the country (mostly Democrats, but a few Republicans) chose to use the alleged epidemic as an excuse to trample on religious liberty.
Among the worst was Mayor Errick Simmons of Greenville, Mississippi, who directed city police to raid a drive-in prayer meeting at Temple Baptist Church. The mostly elderly congregation was slapped with $500 fines for violating the city’s ban on mass gatherings.
Our friend Todd Starnes reports that yesterday the Justice Department filed a Statement of Interest in support of the church’s lawsuit against the city.
“The City of Greenville fined congregants $500 per person for attending these parking lot services – while permitting citizens to attend nearby drive-in restaurants, even with their windows open,” the Attorney General said in a statement. “The City appears to have thereby singled churches out as the only essential service (as designated by the state of Mississippi) that may not operate despite following all CDC and state recommendations regarding social distancing.”
The First Liberty Institute represents Pastor Charleston Hamilton and King James Bible Baptist Church (“KJBBC”) in Greenville, another church targeted by Mayor Simmons. You can read the letter in its entirety through this link.
In its letter to Mayor Simmons, First Liberty explains that, “Your prohibition of religious gatherings of this type and the ticketing of participants, regardless of the precautions taken, is forbidden under both federal and Mississippi state law.
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