By First Liberty communications SWEETWATER, Tenn. — First Liberty and the Center for Religious Expression has sent a demand letter to the City of Sweetwater, Tennessee on behalf of their client, Paul Johnson. The letter asks the city to stop using a twenty-five year old city ordinance to prohibit Johnson from reading the Bible on a public sidewalk without a permit. “Every American has the right to share earnestly-held views in public,” said CRE Chief Counsel Nate Kellum.  “No one should need government permission to preach.” “Mr. Johnson does not need permission from the government to express his faith in public,” said Chelsey Youman, Counsel for First Liberty. “The First Amendment is permission enough for any citizen in any city in America to peacefully read the Bible out loud on a public sidewalk. The Sweetwater ordinance is overbroad, unconstitutional, and must be immediately changed or eliminated.” In August, police officers in Sweetwater told Mr. Johnson that reading the Bible out loud on a public sidewalk fell within the definition of a “demonstration” pursuant to an outdated city ordinance. As such, Mr. Johnson would need a permit from the city to read the Bible on a public sidewalk. But, when Mr. Johnson … [Read more...]

By Louisiana Citizens for Job Creators Attorney General Jeff Landry has won yet another legal battle against Governor John Bel Edwards. Landry challenged Edward’s executive order expanding LGBT benefits for state workers. Landry believed the order exceeded Edward’s authority. A three-judge panel of Louisiana’s 1st Circuit Court of Appeal ruled unanimously. The executive order was an unconstitutional attempt to expand state law. “We have stated all along that the Governor must follow the law, just like everybody else," Landry said. "This ruling affirms a notion of basic civics that the Legislature makes the law, not the governor.” We commend Attorney General Landry on his on this victory as he continues to execute his authority as the state’s chief legal officer. … [Read more...]