The First Amendment
on July 25th, 2012 at 6:54 amDozens of citizens, including members of the Roanoke Tea Party, spoke at the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. Channel 10 ran a story that you can watch above. These residents spoke in support of the county not caving to the unconstitutional whims of a few people who are offended by having an invocation at the beginning of each county meeting.
The speakers at last nights meeting are folks that have actually read the relevant section of the First Amendment.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…
What is the subject of the sentence? Congress. And they are not allowed by the Constitution, to “establish a religion or prohibit the free exercise thereof…”
A prayer of invocation from a Board of Supervisors…
- Has nothing to do with Congress
- Is in no way is establishing a religion
Denying the board the right to pray DOES directly “prohibit the free exercise” of religion. Allowing members to freely express their religion through prayer is the only real Constitutional question at hand, and this Wisconsin group is actually the only people working to infringe on the Constitutional rights of the County.
The First Amendment is really that simple. Or at least it should be as that is what the founders plainly intended. So stand up for the Constitution Roanoke County BOS. Or we will find new Supervisors who will.
Chip Tarbutton
