Press Release | An African-American Pastor Was Removed from a Board on Police and Community Relations Because of His Religious Beliefs
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 8, 2023
CONTACT: nicole velasco @
media@faith-freedom.COM
Murrieta, CA – Today, a lawsuit was filed by Advocates for Faith and Freedom on behalf of Pastor Dennis Hodges, who was removed from an advisory board on police and community relations in San Diego County because of his deeply held religious convictions. This lawsuit alleges the Mayor violated Pasto-r Hodges’s First Amendment Rights by removing him from the commission because of his religious beliefs.
Mr. Hodges was appointed to the advisory board because of his law enforcement experience and African-American heritage. Mr. Hodges has dedicated his life to public service and served as a bridge between law enforcement and the community. The Mayor’s removal of Mr. Hodges was not based on his credentials but on his beliefs on human creation and transgenderism – issues that are unrelated to his role on the advisory board.
“People of faith should never be discriminated against because of their convictions,” said Mariah Gondeiro, Vice President and legal counsel for Advocates for Faith and Freedom. “Pastor Hodges’s removal from this Commission sets a dangerous precedent for the prejudicial hiring and firing practices of government boards. It is unacceptable that individuals of faith are being explicitly forbidden from serving in government simply because of their faith. The Mayor of San Diego must be held accountable for his unconstitutional actions.”
“I have dedicated my life to service,” said Pastor Dennis Hodges. “I am standing up for religious people nationwide who have been discriminated against solely because of their faith. What happened to me at the hands of our government should never happen to anyone else.”
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