Late Thursday night, a federal judge granted class certification and classwide protection for every U.S. Marine who refused the jab for religious reasons. We began this fight last October. Next week, I will share more exciting news about this huge victory. But first, I want to tell you about two contrasting outcomes for two Marines ...

On August 3, two Christian Marines and their young families were notified they would be kicked out of the Marine Corps and military housing in just 48 hours. One Marine called Liberty Counsel, the other did not.

Now one of these families remains employed and in base housing while the other is now jobless and homeless. Read on to learn their stories and why our advocacy work is so important.

We are working hard to obtain classwide protection for every Marine who refuses the jab for religious reasons. The judge gave a hopeful sign last week in court, which I will share below.

But first, please consider making a gift to help Liberty Counsel fight for religious freedom, not only for our brave members of the U.S. military, but for every American. — Mat

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Jeff* and Zachariah* are both devout Christians serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. These Marines believe in duty to God, family and country.

When Joe Biden’s COVID shot mandates for the military were announced, both men investigated the shots and had serious concerns about the experimental mRNA biological agent.

And they discovered that every one of the COVID jabs was developed using and/or tested on aborted fetal cell lines. The Bible is clear that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and it shall not be defiled. Neither man would desecrate his body with the COVID shots.

Both men dutifully submitted religious exemption requests to the shots. The Marines acknowledged that their religious beliefs were sincere. But like every other request made by thousands of Marines, they were denied.

The mere filing of the religious accommodation request set in motion what the Marines call being “blackballed.” This ostracization was followed by months of silence from the brass—until August 3, when they were given 48 hours to leave the Marines.

Jeff and Zachariah had been effectively put to work as serfs for their fellow Marines. The men had their duties stripped down so that their daily service was one of carrying coolers, doing grunt work and issuing weapons with the associated paperwork.

Because of their “unvaccinated” status, the men were refused all regular work, training or opportunities for advancement—a career killer. One had received notice of advancement to the rank of Captain, but this was revoked when he filed a religious accommodation request. This abuse went on for seven long months without a word about their status.

Then on August 3, their base command informed both men they would be kicked out of the Marine Corps on August 5. They, along with their wives and small children, would be kicked out in just 48 hours. The wife of one Marine is 3 1/2 months pregnant with no insurance.

Worse yet, normally when an armed forces member leaves the military, the military pays to move the member and his family back to their home of record. But Joe Biden’s Department of Defense (DOD) has changed the rules for Christians who insist on exercising their religious rights. The DOD is making those service members pay their own way—and with as little notice as possible, to make yet another example of those who dare to demand their legal rights.

Thankfully, Zachariah reached out to Liberty Counsel regarding our massive lawsuit against the Biden administration’s military shot mandates.

Within just two hours of our pleading to the court filed on August 4, Judge Steven Merryday issued a temporary restraining order preventing the military from firing or evicting Zachariah and his family.

Unfortunately, Jeff did not know about our work here at Liberty Counsel. As of Friday at 5 p.m., Jeff was no longer a Marine, and the family was forced to move home with his parents ... all because he refused to reject his faith.

When we learned of Jeff’s situation, we had him testify in court last week. His compelling testimony helped us drive home the point that the court must issue a classwide injunction protecting every service member.

The different outcomes for these two Marines perfectly exemplify the need for class action status that will protect every Marine, and every military service member, not just the ones who have found Liberty Counsel’s services.

Thursday night, Judge Merryday issued class action relief and issued a preliminary injunction protecting all active duty and reserve Marines!

Judge Merryday specifically mentioned Zachariah’s plight in his order, stating: “And the resort to two-day warnings of discharge (and, in the instance of First Lieutenant and undoubtedly others, suddenly charging daily rent of more than $100 to remain in military housing while packing one’s family and searching for civilian housing) suggests retribution and retaliation, the existence of which detracts from the Marine Corps' claim elsewhere in this action to good faith treatment of a religious objector.”   

This is a truly joyous victory, and we look forward to achieving class certification for the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army next.

I will share more about this ruling next week. In the meantime, please keep praying that the judge moves to protect ALL our armed forces from Joe Biden’s blatantly unlawful mandates.

The biggest difference between Jeff and Zachariah is YOU. Without YOU, the faithful Liberty Counsel supporter, Zachariah would not have had the free legal services he needs to fight Joe Biden’s government gone mad. Like Jeff, Zachariah and his family would be jobless and homeless if it were not for YOUR resolve to keep religious freedom FREE by supporting Liberty Counsel.

Please consider making a recurring monthly donation to help us continue defending religious freedom. And a generous Challenge Grant will DOUBLE THE IMPACT of every donation made today. Please help Liberty Counsel keep religious freedom FREE!

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

*Names changed for privacy.

Sources:

“U.S. Marine Granted Emergency Relief from Discharge and Eviction.” Liberty Counsel, August 5, 2022. Lc.org/newsroom/details/080522-us-marine-granted-emergency-relief-from-discharge-and-eviction.

“U.S. Marines Win Class Protection from Shot Mandate.” Liberty Counsel, August 19, 2022. https://lc.org/newsroom/details/081922-us-marines-win-class-protection-from-shot-mandate.