First Amendment Triumphs!
Judge Rules Arrest of Outdoor Worshippers Unconstitutional
Twenty-eight months after the initial arrests, Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. upholds constitutional rights in the landmark ruling of the 2020 Unlawful Arrests of Outdoor Worshipers in Idaho. This ruling sets a precedent that City orders cannot suspend constitutional rights.
The city knew of the hymn-singing event. City crews painted colorful circles in the city hall parking lot that event attendees could stand on to maintain proper social distancing Wednesday and to make it easier for officers to see who was violating the city orders.
The unmasked gathering sang a few hymns and concluded with a doxology. During the event, Gabriel Rench, Sean Bohnet, and Rachel Bohnet were arrested for not wearing masks and not being socially distanced from other attendees.
The church gathering in a public space embodied the first amendment, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to gather, and freedom to petition the government for grievances. Ironically the arresting officer took the hymnal out of Rench’s hand before arresting him.
The arrest was deemed a clear violation of the protesters’ constitutional rights three years later when Judge Morrison C England, Jr ruled in their favor. The Christ Church’s 2020 psalm-sing protest of city covid restrictions was a lawful and constitutionally protected gathering. The City of Moscow acted unlawfully in arresting the charging protesters. Gabriel Rench and others were cleared of any wrongdoing.
Related: Christians Standing Strong in Moscow Idaho
Related: Idaho city wrong to arrest hymn singers at outdoor worship gathering: court rules
And now time to sue for the removal of all the tyrants that had anything to do with this unlawful ordinance or arrests of citizens.
The arresting officers and the city officials that passed the city ordnance should all be fired, never allowed to work in a public job ever.
The tyrants need to be held accountable!