- Ted Cruz «
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Rick Tyler |
News Release | Catherine Frazier |
July 31, 2015 |
Ted Cruz to Hold Iowa Rally for
Religious Liberty on August 21
Persecuted American
Christians from around the Country to Tell their Stories
HOUSTON, Texas
– U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, will hold a Rally for Religious Liberty
on August 21 in Des Moines, IA, calling attention to the religious
persecution of Christian business owners and employees who have been
sanctioned by their government because of their religious beliefs.
Sen. Cruz will bring together eight people who represent six disturbing
cases from around the country of government-sponsored religious
persecution of those who refused to violate their convictions of faith.
Hosting the Rally for Religious Liberty are Dick and Betty Odgaard from
Grimes, Iowa. The Odgaards declined to host same-sex wedding ceremonies
in the historic chapel on their property because it violated their
religious convictions. As a result, the couple spent thousands of
dollars to settle a complaint and will ultimately close their doors
rather than be forced to host same-sex ceremonies in violation of their
faith.
Joining Sen. Cruz and the Odgaards to share their personal stories are:
- - Senior Master Sergeant Phillip Monk, a 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran who was discharged for simply answering his commander’s questions about his beliefs regarding marriage
- - Barronelle Stutzman, a florist who was sued for declining to provide flowers for a same-sex ceremony
- - Kelvin Cochran, a former fire chief fired for writing a book about his Christian beliefs
- - Blaine Adamson, a printer who was sued for not printing tee shirts for a gay pride parade;
- - Melissa and Aaron Kline, Oregon bakers who lost their business because they would not provide a cake for a same-sex ceremony.
“These
six cases are part of a disturbing trend where Christian business
owners are forced to either provide services that violate their
religious beliefs or give up their businesses entirely,” said Sen.
Cruz. “That's wrong.”
Cruz invited these individuals to come to Iowa to tell their stories
and call attention to the systematic undermining of the First Amendment
right to religious free expression.
The Rally for Religious Liberty will be held at the Iowa Events Center
Grand Ballroom at 730 3rd Street in Des Moines, Iowa on August 21.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. This event is open to the press. To RSVP go to www.tedcruz.org/rsvp/rally.