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Defendant Name, Crime, State Year
Governor Kate Brown, Religious Discrimination, Oregon 2020
Crime
Places of worship in Oregon have been at the center of a heated controversy surrounding Governor Kate Brown’s Reopening Plan.
According to a statement from Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams, the plan has raised concerns about discrimination against places of worship.
Phase 1 of the Reopening Oregon Plan had limited places of worship to 25 congregants, regardless of social distancing and hygiene measures, while allowing restaurants and fitness classes to operate with no numerical cap.
The new guidelines, which were issued by Governor Brown, will allow places of worship to hold gatherings with social distancing and hygiene measures for up to 250 people, depending on the size of the facility.
Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams praised Governor Brown for extending religious freedom protections to people of faith.
‘The right to the free exercise of religion is one of our most cherished rights,’ Dreiband said. ‘The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that this right, and other fundamental rights, are preserved during the COVID-19 pandemic.’
The new guidelines have been met with relief by places of worship, who will now be able to serve their congregations while undertaking social distancing and hygiene protocols.
‘We thank Governor Kate Brown for extending religious freedom protections to people of faith as part of Phase 2 of the Reopening Oregon Plan,’ Dreiband and Williams said in a joint statement.
They also commended Governor Brown for her efforts to balance public safety with the preservation of civil rights during the pandemic.
The Department of Justice will continue to prioritize Attorney General Barr’s Memorandum regarding Balancing Public Safety with the Preservation of Civil Rights.
As the pandemic continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether Governor Brown’s new guidelines will be enough to satisfy the concerns of places of worship and civil liberties groups.
Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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