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Supreme Court Won’t Hear Former Marine’s Religious Liberty Case

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The Supreme Court declined to hear a case Monday involving a former Marine court-martialed in part for refusing to remove a bible verse from her work station. This means the ruling against LCpl Monifa Sterling from the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces stands.

The decision not to hear the case “is going to affect the religious freedoms of all of those who serve us in uniform,” warned First Liberty Institute President Kelly Shackelford. “And that really is a shame.”

Shackelford’s nonprofit is defending the former Marine. He called the CAAF decision a “travesty.” “The military court’s outrageous decision means federal judges and military officials can strip our service members of their constitutional rights just because they don’t think someone’s religious beliefs are important enough to be protected. Our service members deserve better.”

United States v. Sterling was appealed to the Supreme Court last December. But the case is not as simple as it appears on first blush.

Sterling’s Court Martial

In 2013 Sterling displayed the phrase “No weapons formed against me shall prosper.” Summarized from Isaiah 54:17, the phrase was taped around her desk. When her supervisor objected, Sterling claimed displaying it was her First Amendment right. Sterling also noted that her coworkers displayed personal items at their desks. Later Sterling’s supervisor tore the phrase down. Sterling replaced the phrase, only to have it removed again.

A court-martial followed. But refusing to remove the phrase wasn’t all Sterling was charged with. As The Stream previously reported, she was also charged with refusing an order, failing to report for duty, and lying about why she didn’t wear the proper uniform. She was convicted and given a bad conduct discharge.

Exercise of Religion?

First Liberty only disputed the conviction regarding the Bible verse. But last August, the CAAF considered the verse in the context of Sterling’s other charges:

This is not the usual case where an individual or group sought an accommodation for an exercise of religion and it was denied. Nor is it a case where the practice at issue was either patently religious, such as the wearing of a hijab … Rather, the claimed exercise of religion at issue in this case involved posting the printed words “[n]o weapon formed against me shall prosper” at a shared workspace in the context of Appellant’s contentious relationship with her superiors.

First Liberty attorney Mike Berry previously told The Stream the CAAF set a dangerous precedent. He claimed it could force service members to prove the importance of their beliefs in order to enjoy Constitutional protection.

People shouldn’t be required to declare intentions “before we engage in religious activity,” he said.

Not Discouraged

Despite the CAAF’s ruling, First Liberty saw an “unusual” number of briefs supporting Sterling. Seven amicus briefs urged the Supreme Court to hear Sterling’s case. Amici included 13 retired military generals, 14 state attorneys general, 36 Congress members, and Dr. Simcha Goldman. Goldman was the plaintiff in a Supreme Court case involving the right to wear a yarmulke while in uniform. Goldman lost 5-4 in 1986.

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jerry Boykin was one of the generals who signed onto the amicus brief. Boykin said Monday the Supreme Court’s decision will have the “unfortunate effect of allowing a chill on religious expression in the military to continue.” He says the ruling, “only underscores the need for the Trump administration to root out the anti-religious animus allowed to fester in the military during the Obama administration.”

Meanwhile, Shackelford claims he isn’t “discouraged” by Sterling’s outcome. “In fact it’s going to really cause us to redouble our efforts,” he said in a video. Shackelford noted First Liberty was previously undefeated in its military cases.

“We plan to keep that record going,” he said. “Eventually we will get this taken care of across the country.” (For more from the author of “Supreme Court Won’t Hear Former Marine’s Religious Liberty Case” please click HERE)

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Fallen Marine’s Mom Teaches Powerful Memorial Day Lesson

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Lt. Col. Christopher Raible died three days after the 2012 Benghazi attack in the little-remembered Taliban siege on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

Raible’s mom, Kim, along with the family of fellow fallen Marine Sgt. Bradley Atwell, waged a vigilant battle to keep their heroes’ memories alive and to hold their government accountable for its malfeasance and cover-up.

This past month, Kim Raible has had to wage another fight on behalf of her son. A few weeks ago, she recounted on Facebook how her request for a local Memorial Day banner in the Pittsburgh suburb of Norwin honoring her son was rejected:

As we enter the month of May, the month that has so much meaning to me, our military, and their families, I was astounded today at the cruel blow the Norwin Rotary handed to me this morning. A few years ago, that Rotary started a banner program making these beautiful military banners that were hung in our town to anyone that wanted their military loved one on a banner. I was approached by a member of the Norwin Rotary to use our son Christopher Raible (KIA September 14, 2012) on the flyer that would be put into businesses for families to pick up and fill out to order a banner for their military loved one and in that same year for using our son on their flyers—a banner was hung in his honor.

Last year, there was not a banner in his honor and I did not understand why. This year, I dropped a check at the office of Dr. Aiello to hope to pay for a banner to be hung (they were members of the rotary and the people that initiated the banner program) so to be sure he was not forgotten. I received a call from Mrs. Aiello asking me what the check was for, as the banners were free, and I had told her to keep the check as a donation anyway and order the banner for my son. She then told me that my son’s banner could not be hung as the Norwin Rotary was not allowing KIA soldiers to be included on the streets of Irwin for this program, only active military. She stated that they would not have enough money to pay for KIA soldiers, too…. wow, not enough money to pay for a soldier that paid with his life.

I was willing to pay for my son’s banner but was still told they were not allowing KIA solders in their program. I was beyond blown away as I asked her why, and was told it was only for active military and not KIA soldiers. Apparently, no one at this Rotary must know the true meaning of Memorial Day or the reason for its observance.

Mrs. Raible told me that after she voiced her frustration with the policy, other families of KIA soldiers came forward to protest. She also found out that other local organizations had adopted similar policies, including “the VFW of North Huntingdon/Irwin as well as the American Legion.”

A military mom never forgets.

Here’s the good news.

Last week, in response to Mrs. Raible’s pleas, the Irwin City Council approved the flying of banners displaying the photos of three local servicemen who were killed in action at the entrance to a local park. “In addition,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported, “the borough plans to allow the posting of banners for other military personnel not included in an existing banner program that honors service members from Irwin, North Huntingdon and North Irwin.” Jim Halfhill, the region’s director of public works and a former Marine, volunteered to put the banners up himself.

A military mom never forgets. And must never rest. Mrs. Raible’s fight for her son’s memory is a fight for all of our fallen. It’s a fight about never taking our freedom for granted—and never, ever forgetting those in uniform who paid the ultimate price for it. (For more from the author of “Fallen Marine’s Mom Teaches Powerful Memorial Day Lesson” please click HERE)

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Trump Picks Retired Marine General as Homeland Security Secretary

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President-elect Donald Trump has chosen retired Marine Gen. John F. Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security, news organizations reported Wednesday.

If nominated and confirmed, Kelly would join a Cabinet that already promises to be well represented by military figures.

Trump has announced his selections of retired Marine Gen. James N. Mattis for secretary of defense and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn for national security adviser.

“That would be the third general in the top echelon of the emerging Trump administration, indicating his preference for military experience, expertise, and accountability,” Major Garrett, chief White House correspondent for CBS News, said in discussing Trump’s choice of Kelly.

Kelly has served for over 40 years in the military and recently retired from his role as commander of U.S. Southern Command, or Southcom.

U.S. Southern Command, according to the Department of Defense, oversees “all Defense Department security cooperation in the 45 nations and territories of Central and South America and the Caribbean Sea, an area of 16 million square miles.”

In this role, Kelly acknowledged the widespread issue of drug trafficking and said he believes in continuing a partnership with Colombia to end drug trafficking, a debate he will likely have to revisit during confirmation hearings for the Department of Homeland Security job.

“Let’s not throw away a success story,” Kelly said during a Pentagon news conference in January, speaking about Colombia’s partnership with the U.S. in fighting drug trafficking, according to an article published by the Defense Department. “We have to stand and continue Plan Colombia, in my opinion, for another 10 years.”

Plan Colombia, established by Congress in 2000, is a cooperative alliance with Colombia that works to combat drugs, guerrilla violence, and social issues.

Kelly also says that he is devoted to fighting terrorism, and that attacks similar to 9/11 are likely to happen again.

“Given the opportunity to do another 9/11, our vicious enemy would do it today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter,” Kelly said in 2013 during a Memorial Day address, according to a tweet by a Washington Post reporter.

“I don’t know why they hate us, and frankly I don’t care, but they do hate us and are driven irrationally to our destruction,” Kelly said.

Kelly’s dedication to the military has not come without sacrifices, however.

Kelly’s son, Marine 1st Lt. Robert Michael Kelly, died after he stepped on a concealed bomb in Afghanistan in 2010, making the senior Kelly “the highest-ranking military officer to lose a son or daughter in Iraq or Afghanistan,” according to The New York Times.

During his son’s funeral, Kelly said that terrorism is “an enemy that is as savage as any that ever walked the earth,” the Los Angeles Times reported.

Kelly reaffirmed his commitment to fighting terrorism during a speech he gave in 2013 at the 5th Marine Regiment Operation Enduring Freedom Memorial dedication ceremony at Camp San Mateo Memorial Garden in Camp Pendleton, California. The memorial honors those who died while serving with 3rd Battalion and 5th Marines in Afghanistan, including Kelly’s son.

“Our nation is still at war, and I think will be for years, if not decades to come,” Kelly said. “It may be inconvenient to some, but I think it is reality. It is not in our power to end it but simply to fight it until our murderous enemy who hates us with visceral disgust for everything we stand for either gives up or we kill them.” (For more from the author of “Trump Picks Retired Marine General as Homeland Security Secretary” please click HERE)

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Decorated Marine Heckled by Black Lives Matter, Then Viciously Attacked Outside McDonald’s in D.C. [+video]

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By Roz Plater. A decorated Marine veteran is recovering after a brutal attack Friday night. He says it happened at a McDonald’s on 911 E St., N.W., in Washington.

ABC7 News broke this story and has new details about a possible crucial piece of evidence. Wednesday night, reports suggest that Metropolitan Police may not release surveillance video from the incident.

30-year-old Chris Marquez was in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and received a bronze star for his heroism.

Marquez says while he was eating at a McDonald’s Friday night, a group of young people surrounded him and began yelling about “black lives matter.” Marquez says he sensed trouble and ignored them. When he left he was attacked and viciously beaten. (Read more from “Decorated Marine Heckled, Attacked by Group of Teens Outside McDonald’s in D.C.” HERE)

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Black Lives Matter Protester Warns TheBlaze of the Coming ‘Race War’

By Josiah Ryan. A very small number of demonstrators took to the streets in front of NFL offices in New York City on Tuesday to protest Beyonce’s performance at Super Bowl 50 of her racially charged anthem “Formation,” which they deemed offensive.

In response Black Lives Matters protesters appeared with a counter-protest. Among them was Kalief Metellus, who told TheBlaze, he believed a “race war” may be on the horizon.

(Read more from “Black Lives Matter Protester Warns TheBlaze of the Coming ‘Race War'” HERE)

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Former U.S. Marine on Hunting Trip With Kids Arrested After Entering Mexico by Innocent Mistake

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An 18-year-veteran of the Marine Corps who did tours of service in Iraq and Afghanistan earning a Bronze Star was hoping for some much-needed dad time with his kids.

So retired 1st Sgt. Jeromie Slaughter, 38, planned a deer-hunting trip with them a few hours from his Houston-area home — a trip that became an odyssey when he took a wrong turn and wound up arrested in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, for carrying weapons.

And when his family tried to find a Mexican lawyer to represent him, the ones they contacted asked for cash in U.S. dollars to help secure his release, Slaughter’s mother, Beverly McKinney, said . . .

According to McKinney, the Texas City resident piled into his pickup with his 14-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter after Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. They were heading for a deer lease – private property that’s open to hunters for a fee – near Rocksprings, about 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, about a 6-hour drive.

Instead, Slaughter made a wrong turn and, at about 1 a.m. Friday morning, wound up crossing a bridge into Ciudad Acuña, across the border from Del Rio, Texas. . . It was frustrating, [Slaughter’s mother told Fox] on Monday, because Mexican officials “were treating him like he is a terrorist. He was on a hunting trip, [he is] not a terrorist. He has fought them, he isn’t one.” (Read more from “Former U.S. Marine on Hunting Trip With Kids Arrested After Entering Mexico by Mistake” HERE)

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Liberal Organization Tells Marine ‘Jesus Does Not Belong in the Military’, Here’s the Incredible Response

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A nonprofit civil rights organization is demanding a Hawaii Marine Corps base take down a religious themed sign and move it to the base’s chapel.

The sign, which says, “God bless the military, their families and the civilians who work with them”, was established on the base in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“This sign is a brazen violation of the No Establishment clause of the Constitution, as it sends the clear message that your installation gives preference to those who hold religious beliefs over those who do not, and those who prefer a monotheistic, intervening god over other deities or theologies,” Blake A. Page wrote in a letter to MCB Hawaii Commanding Officer Col. Sean C. Killeen . . .

Not only is the organization’s demands to remove the sign ridiculous, but it’s also incredibly ignorant. Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, a Christian group of chaplain endorsers, called the MRFF’s [Military Religious Freedom Foundation’s] accusations as “unfounded.”

“Only someone with a great misunderstanding of the First Amendment or an axe to grind against religion would claim that such a slogan poses a threat or in any way unconstitutional. The real threat is posed by those who want to whitewash any reference to God from public discourse — even ones as innocuous and uplifting as this one,” Chaplain Ron Crews, the group’s executive director, said. (Read more from “Liberal Organization Tells Marine ‘Jesus Does Not Belong in the Military’, Here’s His Incredible Response” HERE)

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Watch: Black Marine GOES off on Black Lives Matter With Message Facebook Is Trying to Silence

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SONY DSCA former Marine is lashing out against the “Black Lives Matter” movement in an extensive but passionate video that is making the rounds on YouTube and has been picked up by several online media outlets.

“This ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement only promotes racism,” argued Michael Whaley, 27. “And now they’re encouraging black people to go and kill white people, because they want white people to feel what we felt 400 years ago. Newsflash: Were you living 400 years ago? Nope.”

So how’re you gonna let something in the past, that you never existed, that you were never born in affect how you live your life today? [To] have that much influence over you today?

All lives matter. That police officer that got killed by that black man because that black man listened to what y’all were saying about going out and killing white people. That police officer’s life mattered. That 9-year-old girl in Ferguson, Mo., that got shot in the head while she was doing her homework in a drive-by shooting that none of y’all protested — her life mattered.

Whaley was referring to Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Goforth, who was fatally shot Friday, USA Today noted. Shannon J. Miles, the alleged shooter in the crime, has been charged with capital murder.

The “All Lives Matter” activist then referenced Jamyla Bolden, who was killed by an errant bullet on August 18. Suspect De’Eris Brown has been charged with second-degree murder, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and three counts of armed criminal action in relation to the shooting, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported. The outlet pointed out that the bullet also struck Bolden’s mother, injuring her leg. (Read more from “Watch: Black Marine GOES off on Black Lives Matter With Message Facebook Is Trying to Silence” HERE)

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Chattanooga Marine Unleashes BRUTAL Video on Obama, Says 9 Words That Are Going Viral

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A U.S. Marine offered President Barack Obama a tough lesson in what it means to show respect for his fallen brothers-in-arms.

In the 11 minute video, the unnamed veteran, who said he is from Chattanooga, first called out the president on the manner he chose to speak following the Chattanooga shootings.

“The day of the attack, you delivered a statement. You didn’t even have the decency to stand up,” he said.

The Marine then ticked off a list of shootings or deaths that Obama did stand up for while he spoke to the nation, including the Charleston shooting, the Boston bombings, the Baltimore riots, Michael Brown’s death, and the Washington Naval Yard shooting. He even stood up when singer Whitney Houston passed.

Rather than standing out of a sign of respect for the warriors who just gave their lives in military service to their country, “You sit slumped down in a chair and ramble through some poorly scripted apology that sounds as sincere as ‘if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor,’” he stated.

The Chattanooga resident then stood up and gave a short bio of each of the fallen and offered his condolences and prayers to their families. Some of the Marines had served multiple tours of duty overseas. (Read more from “Chattanooga Marine Unleashes BRUTAL Video on Obama, Says 9 Words That Are Going Viral” HERE)

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Watch: Something Powerful Happened When One of the Fallen TN Marines Returned Home

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Lance Cpl. Squire “Skip” Wells was brought home to Cobb County, Georgia yesterday. Wells was one of the 5 men killed in last weeks shooting in Chattanooga TN. This video was filmed over I-75N in Cobb County and shows the powerful moments as his casket left from Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.

Close to 100 Patriot Guard riders and 20+ police motorcycles lead the procession. But watch what happens as other motorists stop their vehicles and get out to pay their respects.

(Read more from “Something Powerful Happened When One of the Fallen TN Marines Returned Home” HERE)

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Marine Issues Challenge to America That He Says Will ‘Teach Obama Respect’

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A U.S. Marine veteran and contributor at the DC Gazette recently responded to the Obama administration’s reaction – or lack thereof – to the deadly shootings at military facilities in Chattanooga, Tenn., last week.

“Most are fully aware of the president not showing support for our fallen and flags continue flying high in the sky,” Mike Shepard wrote. “He invited the family of a traitor named Berghdal [sic] to the [White House] rose garden [sic] to celebrate the release of our enemy. He has yet to call out the terrorist who shot up two recruiting stations in Chattanooga.”

Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, who was also killed in last week’s attack, has been named as a suspect with possible ties to radical Islam.

Shepard proposed a challenge to all like-minded activists that he predicted would “teach Obama about respect.”

Until July 30, which will be two weeks after the deadly shootings, he suggested all American flags fly at half-mast.

“Let’s show the president what it is to respect this country and our fallen,” he wrote. “If you drive by a business, please go in and ask they fly that flag at half mast [sic]. If we get the whole country to do it the president might get the message.” (Read more from “Marine Issues Challenge to America That He Says Will ‘Teach Obama Respect'” HERE)

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