U.S. District Court Judge Steven Merryday ruled on Aug. 18 that the USMC cannot discharge hundreds of Marines whose religious exemptions to the military COVID-19 vaccine mandate were denied. In his 48-page decision, the federal judge ruled that the military branch has failed to adhere to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993. Under the RFRA, the federal government must prove that a compelling governmental interest requires a certain action and that no less-restrictive alternatives exist.
Given this, the federal judge appointed by former President George H.W. Bush issued a class-wide preliminary injunction against the Department of Defense (DOD) and the USMC. The injunction stated that both entities are prohibited "from enforcing against a member of the class any order, requirement or rule to accept COVID-19 vaccination; from separating or discharging from the Marine Corps a member of the class who declines COVID-19 vaccination; and from retaliating against a member of the class for the member’s asserting statutory rights under RFRA."
A report by the Epoch Times quoted Merryday's ruling, stating that none of the denied religious accommodations demonstrated that "accommodating a particular applicant will meaningfully impede the health and readiness of the 95 percent vaccinated force or meaningfully impede the military’s operations and duties." (Related: Vaccine mandates, military vaccine injuries continue to threaten national security by killing our soldiers.)
It added that only 11 religious accommodations to the COVID-19 vaccine had been approved by Aug. 4, with none having been approved before February. While there were three accommodations approved in February, these were granted to retiring USMC members.
"The record presents no successful applicant other than a few who are due for retirement and prompt separation," Merryday wrote.
The federal judge's decision followed a Marine who sought help from religious freedom group Liberty Counsel on Aug. 3. The aforementioned Marine and his colleague, alongside their respective families, were notified that they would be evicted from military housing in 48 hours due to noncompliance with the USMC's vaccine mandate.
Merryday laid out the two USMC members' plight in his decision – receiving two-day warnings of discharge and suddenly being charged more than $100 in daily rent to stay in military housing while packing up and searching for civilian housing. He pointed out that the actions against the two suggests "retribution and retaliation."
Pentagon engaging in medical fascism against Marines declining the shots
"Normally, when an Armed Forces member leaves the military, the military pays to move the member and [their] family back to their home of record," said Liberty Counsel. "But [President] Joe Biden's DOD has changed the rules for Christians who insist on exercising their religious rights. The DOD is making those service members pay their own way, and with as little notice as possible, to make yet another example of those who dare to demand their legal rights."
However, the group also lauded the federal judge for his quick actions.
"Within just two hours of our pleading to the court filed on Aug. 4, Merryday issued a temporary restraining order preventing the military from firing or evicting [the plaintiffs and their families]."
"Our courageous Marines finally have relief from these unlawful COVID-19 shot mandates, Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement. "The DOD has relentlessly violated the law and ignored their religious freedom. Today, that lawlessness ends."
As of writing, the USMC has discharged 3,299 Marines for noncompliance with the military branch's vaccine mandate. A recent update mentioned that 3,722 Marines who filed religious exemptions were either denied or had their requests pending deliberation.
Commenting on the military's vaccine mandate, Merryday wrote in his 48-page ruling: "When Congress acts to preserve liberty, especially a liberty historically and constitutionally fundamental to the U.S., the courts — the intended preserve of liberty — must not evade or equivocate, must not, so to speak, sacrifice the fundamental right of thousands of privates to free exercise in order to gratify the preference of a few generals."
Watch this video about Marines being terminated due to noncompliance with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
This video is from the anon1556 channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
NZ magistrate: COVID vaccine mandates for law enforcement, military personnel are "unlawful."
Judge blocks Biden's oppressive vaccine mandate for federal contractors and subcontractors.
US soldiers sue federal agencies over military's COVID-19 vaccine requirements.
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