Listen: Judge Strikes SAFE Act; Arkansan Prosecuted for Preaching; and More

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You’re listening to Family Council in Little Rock, bringing you the latest news and updates. Here are today’s stories.

In our first story, a federal judge in Little Rock has struck down a law designed to protect children from sex-reassignment procedures. U.S. District Judge James Moody blocked the enforcement of the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (or SAFE) Act, a state law passed in Arkansas in 2021. The law safeguards children by prohibiting sex-reassignment surgeries, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones on minors.

Family Council President Jerry Cox expressed disappointment with the ruling, saying that subjecting children to sex-change procedures can have harmful, long-term effects. Cox believes that the higher courts will recognize the importance of the SAFE Act and ultimately uphold the law as constitutional.

Moving on to our second story, a federal lawsuit in Maryland highlights the significance of laws passed in Arkansas. Three families, including one Muslim, one Roman Catholic, and one Ukrainian Orthodox, recently filed a lawsuit against the Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland. The lawsuit challenges the school district’s policy, which no longer notifies parents about LGBT content at school and prevents them from opting their children out of pro-LGBT material.

The families argue that the LGBT Pride Storybooks provided in the schools are not age appropriate and promote a one sided transgender ideology. Similar pro-LGBT books have caused controversy in libraries across Arkansas. The Arkansas Legislature has taken steps to prevent this type of material from being present in public school classrooms, with laws such as the 2023 LEARNS Act protecting elementary students from inappropriate sexual material and prohibiting critical race theory in public schools.

Our final story brings us to Batesville, Arkansas, where a Christian preacher named Jeremy Anders is being prosecuted for exercising his religious freedom. Mr. Anders was arrested in April for harassment due to preaching on a public sidewalk.

Attorney Bob Ballinger, the Director of Law and Policy for the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, is defending Mr. Anders in court. In a statement, Mr. Ballinger highlights the importance of protecting individual rights, including the right to preach and speak on sidewalks.

Former Senator Jason Rapert, Founder and President of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, also voiced his concerns, emphasizing that the freedom of religion, speech, and peaceful assembly are critical rights that should be protected. Mr. Anders hopes that his case will set a precedent for the protection of religious expression in public spaces.

That wraps up our news segment for today! Stay tuned for more updates from Family Council in Little Rock. You can find more information on our website at FamilyCouncil.org. Thanks for listening!

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Christian Prosecuted in an Arkansas Court for Preaching

Religious Freedom

The following is a press release from the National Association of Christian Lawmakers.

Batesville, Arkansas, June 14, 2023. –Jeremy Anders is a man who has overcome significant challenges and holds great love in his heart. He endured malicious bullying during his childhood and teenage years and sought support and relief from inappropriate sources. As a young adult, he found himself battling addiction and living a LGBTQ lifestyle.

However, Mr. Anders experienced a life-changing transformation when he surrendered his life to the Lord in the Spring of 2010. Through divine intervention, he was delivered from that lifestyle. In 2013, he dedicated himself to the ministry of preaching, starting with a nursing home ministry. In 2015, he felt a calling to reach out to those still trapped in the LGBTQ lifestyle, utilizing Facebook and street preaching as platforms to spread his message. Since then, he has faithfully carried out this ministry.

On June 5, 2022, while driving through Batesville with his mother, Mr. Anders felt compelled to preach on a public sidewalk in downtown Batesville, in front of a closed establishment. During his preaching, he was confronted by an individual who threatened to involve the police if he did not stop. Despite asserting his rights, Mr. Anders was approached later that evening by two officers who warned him against returning  to the same sidewalk location, citing potential charges of harassment and criminal trespass. Despite continuing his ministry while avoiding  confrontations, Mr. Anders was unexpectedly arrested for  harassment on April 20, 2023, during his routine commute to work. He spent over 24 hours in jail solely for preaching.

Mr. Anders’ trial took place in Batesville District Court on Wednesday, June 14th. Bob Ballinger, the Director of Law and Policy for the National Association of Christian Lawmakers (NACL), appeared as Mr. Anders’ defense counsel in court. The objective was to protect Mr. Anders’ individual rights and safeguard the right to preach and speak on sidewalks in Arkansas for all citizens. The judge has yet to rule on Mr. Anders’ guilt or innocence. He has requested the attorneys to submit briefs to him for consideration prior to issuing his final order.

Ballinger, renowned for his advocacy on religious liberty and First Amendment issues during his time as a legislator, expressed his deep concerns regarding the incident. He stated, “This case represents one of the most egregious violations of the First Amendment I have witnessed in Arkansas. Our Constitution upholds religious expression through the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses, and our state’s religious freedom protections necessitate strict scrutiny whenever governmental actions impede religious expression.”

He further emphasized, “The Supreme Court, in Curtis Pub. Co. v. Butts, declared that the ‘dissemination of the individual’s opinions on matters of public interest’ is an ‘unalienable right that governments are instituted to secure,’ as articulated in the Declaration of Independence. Governments that fail to protect such rights are not fulfilling their purpose.”

Former Senator Jason Rapert, Founder and President of NACL, expressed his views on the matter, saying, “Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to peacefully assemble are all enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution for an important reason – they are critical freedoms in our constitutional republic. Our founding fathers placed them at the top of the Bill of Rights because they wanted these rights to be protected for every individual. Mr. Anders was peacefully standing on a public sidewalk exercising his freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and his right to peacefully assemble in Batesville, Arkansas. He was preaching the Word of God. He should never have been arrested, and I am appalled that he was prosecuted for preaching in the state of Arkansas.”

When asked about his ministry, Mr. Anders summarized, “To put it simply, Jesus Christ can liberate you from the sins and bondage of homosexuality, and if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” He further expressed his unwavering commitment to his faith and that he hopes that his case will set a precedent for the protection of religious expression in public spaces for others.

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