The ICE protesters that stormed Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, in January sent chills down the spines of pastors, priests and rabbis across the country.
AFN reported previously on the protestors storming into the church declaring “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good.” They disrupted the service because they claimed David Eastwood, the church’s pastor, was also the head of the local ICE field office. Black Lives Matter even notified former CNN host Don Lemon to be at the church, and he recorded the protest.
Senate Bill 1070 would update the state penal code, and offenders could be charged with fines up to $5,000 and face up to two or three years in jail.
The Christian Post reports that the Protect Worship coalition consists of Jewish, Islamic, Evangelical and Mormon communities, all of whom support this bill. They say it’s not about “policing disagreement or restricting lawful expression, but about addressing deliberate conduct that interferes with the order and solemnity of worship services.”
Other supporters are California Family Council, The American Council, who helped introduce the bill, and Pastor Jack Hibbs from Calvary Chapel Chino Hills.
While Grave’s bill is just getting started, attorney Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, says that it's an important piece of legislation.
“If people do not have the reasonable assurance that they can go to a worship service and not be scared or threatened by people invading the church, then we don't have religious freedom,” states Dacus.
Democrats in the General Assembly and Senate have not yet lined up for or against the bill, but Dacus says that a good many will oppose the commonsense measure.
“Many politicians on the Left have openly demonstrated very little appreciation for religious freedom,” says Dacus.
It's already a misdemeanor to disrupt a church service in California. This bill makes it a felony, which Dacus says, again, will rub many Golden State Democrats the wrong way.
“They are often very reluctant to do anything that will become more punitive for criminal activity,” states Dacus.
He says that it remains to be seen if they can muster enough opposition to kill the bill.
