Churches Suing MN Governor Walz Over Closures

While the Illinois governor is saying that churches might have to stay closed in his state for another year. some churches in MN are suing Gov Walz over their forced closure.

Of real concern is a tweet that one of Gov Walz staff members tweeted.

A collection of Minnesota businesses and churches have sued Governor Tim Walz in federal court to end his economic shutdown.

The two churches and three businesses represented by the Upper Midwest Law Center claim that Walz’s executive orders to enforce statewide closures to combat coronavirus violate the First, Fifth and 14th Amendments to the US Constitution. The plaintiffs filed their suit, Wednesday, with the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.

The Law Center says that Walz’s shutdowns unfairly impact small businesses while leaving big box retailers like Walmart unscathed.

“Governor Walz’ scheme of selecting economic winners and losers by wholly shutting down some businesses while allowing others to remain open violates the Plaintiff businesses’ 14th Amendment due process and equal protection rights,” says Doug Seaton, a lawyer with the Center.

“Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS are open, while local Hallmark stores are closed. Golf courses and bait shops are open, but indoor amusement facilities are shut. Nobody can legally get a haircut, but dogs may now be groomed,” the Center adds, underscoring the unequal nature of the shutdown.

The Center also notes that their case is different than the one filed recently by the Free Minnesota Small Business Coalition that has similar aims but is distinctly separate.

Not everybody supports the efforts of small businesses to oppose Walz’s months long shutdown. Brian Strub, a member of the governor’s staff, says that efforts by churches to reopen are motivated by greed and will endanger lives.

“Beware of any church suing to reopen, as they may be showing their true colors of caring more about the collection plate than about human life. This [the closures] is #prolife in 2020,” he wrote in a now deleted tweet.

A reporter from Alpha News contacted Strub, asking why he deleted his tweet but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Strub is not alone in his opposition to the lawsuit.

“The virus has forced the state to take drastic action to keep Minnesotans safe, but it’s action that is within the Governor’s authority,” a Walz spokesman said Thursday responding to the lawsuit, per the Star Tribune. “It is also in line with federal guidance and similar to what many other states are doing. All of the Governor’s actions have been grounded in the need to protect the health and safety of Minnesotans.”

Walz originally planned to shut down the state’s economy starting March 17. After he issued two extensions, the governor’s shutdowns will now extend through May 18, leaving small business owners and their employees without work for over 60 days.

Here;  https://alphanewsmn.com/churches-businesses-walz-court/

It's interesting and sad to see hundreds of shoppers filling the Walmart and Target parking lots because they are considered "essential" by the government, but the worship of God Almighty on the sabbath is forbidden.

"Remember the Sabbath, to keep it Holy"