So this just happened:
Greenville, MS
This happened almost literally in my backyard. I pass by Temple Baptist all the time. It’s surreal living in a Delta community that is strikingly peaceful and unified in the face of racial divisions elsewhere when the MAYOR of all people decides to enforce a shelter in place order against two churches.
My church VOLUNTARILY closed its doors to all but staff such as myself who were needed for live-streaming. We made what we believed to be a wise decision to protect our congregation from spreading the virus within our walls. It was the right thing to do. What happened at Temple and at King James Bible in Greenville was that worshipers we’re gathered in the parking lot, windows rolled up, and the mayor decided to use that as an opportunity to “make an example” of them. There are cars at Sonic, meanwhile, and more than 10 of them, but they are NOT an example, according to the mayor. Whether it was the mayor’s intent or not to target religion, religion WAS the target of his misdeeds. Moreover, anyone with a background in law such as Mayor Simmons (I’ve actually met and spoke with him for a while) should have enough of a rudimentary understanding of the US constitution to know you JUST DON’T DO THAT, and a time of crisis is certainly no exception. The DOJ is now getting involved, and I personally expect the mayor to resign. It would be the right decision, IMO. It would be even better if he faced prosecution. A lawsuit on behalf of Temple has already been filed against the city. I’m eagerly awaiting the outcome.
14 Apr 2020, 3:53 pm
