A U.S. Marine Corps chain of command has already DEFIED a federal court order requiring the Corps to stop unlawfully harassing and punishing Marines who chose to exercise their religious freedom right to refuse the COVID jabs. Read on to learn the shocking details and what we are doing to stop this lawless behavior. — Mat

But first, this latest lawless move from the Biden administration shows our fight for religious freedom is far from over. We need YOUR help right now to defend the brave service members being unlawfully denied their religious freedom. Every donation made today will be DOUBLED IN IMPACT by a generous Challenge Grant. Our nation’s heroes need YOU. Please give generously today.

Last Thursday, Liberty Counsel won class certification and a preliminary injunction protecting all religious exemption-seeking U.S. Marines from retaliation for not taking the COVID jabs.

The powerful order made crystal clear that no one, not even the President nor the U.S. Marine Corps, can infringe upon the religious freedom rights of our service members. The order required the Marine Corps to end all harassment of our plaintiffs and to stop all attempts to force these Marines out of the military.

But instead of obeying Judge Merryday’s order, a Marine Corps chain of command has decided to act as though he is above the law.

Over the weekend, USMC commanders began attempting to boot unvaccinated service members from the Marines in direct defiance of Judge Merryday’s order. We will not allow this to happen!

Help us fight these lawless attempts to purge Christians and people of faith from the U.S. military.

Friday morning, just over 12 hours after Judge Merryday’s order went into effect, Cpl. David* was called into his commander’s office. There his Major and 1st Sergeant demanded to know if David “intended to continue fighting the shot mandate.” If so, David was informed that he would be moved out of the office and battery duty. This would be the third time David suffered repercussions and punishments for simply requesting his protected right to refuse the COVID shots on religious grounds.

But that wasn’t all. David was also informed that unless he got vaccinated by Monday morning, he would be removed from the military.

David reminded the chain of command that he and all his fellow religious exemption-seeking Marines were now protected by a federal court order. David’s superior told him he didn’t care a bit about the protective order. “The class action doesn’t matter,” David’s 1st Sergeant told him. “Will you vaccinate by Monday or not?”

David repeated his stance—his faith prevents him from taking the abortion-linked COVID shots. Infuriated, the First Sergeant told David, “We’ll just do this now, then,” and pulled out an already completed 6105 punishment form and insisted David sign it.

Much to his commanding officer’s disapproval, David refused to sign the punishment form. Instead, David informed his chain of command that the form was in direct violation of the judge’s order. But David’s chain of command simply responded with “we don’t care” and continued the unlawful action.

Early in this case, Department of Defense (DOD) attorneys tried to tell the judge that the courts have no authority over the military. In court and in his subsequent rulings, the judge has made perfectly clear to the DOD, the entire military and even Joe Biden himself—NO ONE is above the law, and NO ONE may defy it.

“Obviously, RFRA [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] includes everyone from the President to a park ranger, from the Chief Justice of the United States to a probation officer, from the Speaker of the House to a member’s district office staffer, from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to a military recruiter,” wrote Judge Merryday in his order, “even if they don’t like it and even if they don’t agree with it. The Free Exercise Clause and RFRA are the law of the land.” (Emphasis added).

Liberty Counsel will be dragging the reticent DOD back before the court where the DOD will once again be forced to explain to a sitting federal judge exactly why this administration thinks it can violate the law and abuse our military members. We anticipate Judge Merryday will hold the people responsible in contempt of court.

Don’t let Joe Biden purge Christians and people of faith from the military!

The Biden administration is keeping our legal team unbelievably busy. In addition to defending these Marines, Liberty Counsel also has class action lawsuits to protect the Navy, Air Force and Space Force. We anticipate that our Army and Coast Guard plaintiffs will receive class action certification as well in the near future. And we continue to defend other multiple religious freedom cases as well.

Won’t you please prayerfully consider making a recurring monthly donation to fund the fight for religious freedom? And every donation made today will be DOUBLED IN IMPACT by a Challenge Grant. Please, give generously and help us help our military heroes!

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

P.S. Want to do more? Fax state and federal legislators to demand they STOP THE SHOT MANDATES! And sign the petition.

*Name changed for privacy.

Sources:

‌‌“Coronavirus Disease 2019.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 11, 2022. Cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0811-covid-guidance.html.

“Military Whistleblower Report Calls for DOD Investigation.” Liberty Counsel, August 17, 2022. Lc.org/newsroom/details/081722-military-whistleblower-report-calls-for-dod-investigation.

“Resources & Research: COVID Vaccine.” Liberty Counsel, 2021. Lc.org/vaccine.

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