Chicago Mayor Raids Black Church to Shut Down Sunday Service
Lori Lightfoot brings heavy handed measures to Churches
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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered a police raid on a black church after they defied her coronavirus lockdown order and resumed Sunday services.
Lightfoot sent squad cars full of officers to the Chicago Cornerstone Baptist Church in the South Side’s Woodlawn neighborhood.
Pastor of the Church, Courtney Lewis, reportedly refused to allow the officers entry by locking the doors to the building, according to Todd Starnes.
Pastor Lewis said the raid felt like he was facing “the Soviet-style KGB” as police demanded entry to shut the church down.
“Thankfully, our doors were locked as a normal safety precaution we take each service to protect our members from the escalating gun violence in Chicago,” Lewis said.
“All we are seeking is the same consideration and trust that is being tendered toward the liquor stores, abortion clinics, and Walmart,” Lewis told Starnes.
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Lewis has now sought help from U.S. Attorney John Lausch.
“We are trying to follow the laws of man as much as reasonably possible, but when the laws of man conflict with the laws of God, I, as a pastor, have a duty to follow the laws of God,” Lewis wrote in a recent letter to Lausch.
“We will not be intimidated by this overhanded government bully, but we are requesting the assistance of our president and our Justice Department in correcting this grave miscarriage of the law.”
Lightfoot has been targeting the city’s churches for several weeks, saying that their desire to re-open is “dangerous and foolish.”
Chicago last week began issuing fines to churches that Lightfoot believes are violating her coronavirus lockdown orders.
Fines that have already been handed out to churches include Philadelphia Romanian Church of God, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church, Metro Praise International, and others.
Who’s growing tired of this lunacy?https://t.co/LXfabUIdBB
— Prov356🇺🇸 (@cujo_14) May 24, 2020
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Last week, President Donald Trump ordered states to allow churches to resume services.
The president sent a clear message to state officials that churches must be allowed to hold services amid the pandemic.
Trump also sent a warning to state leaderships who may defy his request, saying:
“Today, I am identifying houses of worship, churches, synagogues, and mosques as essential places that provide essential services,” Trump said.
"If they don't do it, I will override the governors."
Meanwhile, Churches in California are planning to defy Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom's lockdown orders by moving to resume in-person services.
The defiant move was announced by an attorney who drafted a “Declaration Of Essentiality For Churches” earlier this month.
The lawyer, Robert H. Tyler, has submitted a letter to California Governor Newsom (D-CA) informing him that several churches across the state are planning to reopen, despite his order.
