UPDATE: Here’s a response from Morristown City Hall:
We are aware of the claims made that the city has prohibited a vigil from occurring in memorial to Charlie Kirk. Though a request has been made for use of certain space, the claims seen in most headlines we have seen in the last 24 hours are not accurate.
The city is working on a full response to the referenced demand letter, and our understanding is that the Chamber of Commerce has not yet fully reviewed the application to reserve the downtown green on Friday (these applications are typically submitted at least 30 days in advance). However, regardless of the nature of the application, the farmers market and downtown green are unavailable on Friday as the space transitions from its daytime use as a farmers market and preparations begin for a Saturday event that has been on the calendar for several months.
The city neither permits nor denies the right of individuals to peaceably assemble. Several public parks in the immediate vicinity of downtown are also well equipped for such assemblies. Not to mention other public space such as the city center pedestrian complex and courthouse lawn.
We also join in grieving the loss of Charlie Kirk and any other such lapse as we have seen in our nation’s sense of civility. The community needs opportunities to come together, and we are thankful for those in the Morristown area that have organized such gatherings to honor others and pray for all.
ORIGINAL STORY: A town in eastern Tennessee is under fire after they refused to allow local citizens to hold a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk. The conservative leader was assassinated last week at Utah Valley University.
Brad Tumey had sought permission to host a vigil in Morristown on Friday night in the downtown’s green space. Multiple city agencies denied his request – citing a ban on political and religious activities.
First Liberty Institute, a law firm that specializes in religious liberty cases, sent a letter to City Hall demanding that they reverse the ban. Click here to read the demand letter.
“After last week’s tragic loss, many Americans are shaken and grieving,” said Nate Kellum, senior counsel at First Liberty.
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“Mr. Tumey simply wants to bring people together to inspire encouragement and hope in his town. It is outrageous that Morristown singles out religious as well as political speech for censorship,” the attorney added. “These are the very forms of expression the First Amendment is designed to protect. Morristown’s ordinance is blatantly unconstitutional.”
According to the event permit application and Morristown Ordinance (section 9-204(6)), acceptable events on the green space include activities like family reunions, car shows, dances, and concerts, as long as they are not political or religious in nature.
“The City welcomes the public to reserve the downtown green for both public and private events, such as car shows, concerts, corporate meetings, or even family gatherings,” First Liberty wrote in its demand letter. “Yet, any religious activity is outright banned. Though a local business could gather with its employees to engage in team-building exercises, a local church leadership team could not. The question at the core of the City’s decision to approve or deny a permit is whether religion is involved.”
It’s puzzling that a town in Tennessee would ban people of faith from gathering in the public square. Sounds like there may be a few godless heathens running around Rocky Top.
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