In case you missed it over the weekend, a pastor in Mississippi planned to hold a drive-in church service on Easter Sunday. Drive-in services allow people to keep their distance from one another while listening to a sermon from their vehicles.
The local police got wind of the service and showed up ahead of time to block worshippers from participating. They also told the pastor hosting the event that his "rights were suspended" under a statewide, Wuhan coronavirus stay-at-home order.
Video from Pastor Hamilton of King James Bible Baptist Church in Greenville, MS. Church tried the “drive-in” method of holding services & were targeted due to the Mayor issuing an order prohibiting such services. Watch as an officer tells the Pastor that his rights are suspended. pic.twitter.com/zLdT6Qd8ew
— Nick Short ???? (@PoliticalShort) April 11, 2020
In Kentucky, congregants were threatened with misdemeanors and police riddled church parking lots with nails. Police also recorded license plate numbers for punishment.
#CommunisminAmerica
— Michael Hoffman (@HoffmanMichaelA) April 13, 2020
By order of Gov. Andy Beshear, Kentucky police recorded license plates and threatened citizens who attended church on Easter Sunday with arrest for a Class A misdemeanor. The notice pictured here was placed on windshields of cars in the church parking lot. pic.twitter.com/y84qetV4NL
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Kentucky: Gov. Beshear said State Police will be recording the license plate numbers of any vehicle seen at any mass gatherings this weekend. Local health officials then will contact those associated with those vehicles and require them to self-quarantine for 14 days.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) April 11, 2020
Hats off to these Baptists for their courage in going to church this morning despite their parking lot being full of nails and police issuing warnings. Any Catholic Churches out there showing similar courage?https://t.co/Wlf2V1tRrH
— Giuseppe Pellegrino (@pellegrino2020) April 13, 2020
The Department of Justice is concerned about the overreach and will be releasing guidance sometime this week. Members of Congress and everyday Americans are also paying attention.
During this sacred week for many Americans, AG Barr is monitoring govt regulation of religious services. While social distancing policies are appropriate during this emergency, they must be applied evenhandedly & not single out religious orgs. Expect action from DOJ next week!
— KerriKupecDOJ (@KerriKupecDOJ) April 12, 2020
Taking license plates at church? Quarantining someone for being Christian on Easter Sunday? Someone needs to take a step back here.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 11, 2020
Kentucky Governor Announces Plan to Record License Plates of Easter Church Goers and Force Them to Quarantine for 14 Days https://t.co/z7U42liQRh
Angered by citations for being in park with nuclear family, or in car at church, or running on the beach. Or “non-essential” goods roped off in stores. These things have nothing to do with fighting the virus and everything to do with power-hungry politicians and law enforcement.
— Ilya Shapiro (@ishapiro) April 13, 2020
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