A Presbyterian minister is suing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris, saying he was denied access to holding a Good Friday prayer vigil on the sidewalk outside of the Capitol, where fencing has been since the storming of the building on Jan. 6.
“Denying a minister and faithful parishioners the ability to pray outside the U.S. Capitol is unfathomable and violates First Amendment guarantees for traditional public forums,” the Center for American Liberty’s CEO, Harmeet K. Dhillon, said in a statement.
The Rev. Patrick Mahoney said he has held similar prayer events in the area, including last year when he coordinated with officials to make sure those involved were following COVID-19 guidance.
Capitol Police told Mahoney in an email reviewed by Fox News that he could not hold the vigil this year because it would be in a “restricted” area and that they could not process his request permit. One official offered an alternative area, but Mahoney said it was “quite far from where I wanted to be.”
Mahoney said the denial to access violates his First Amendment rights of free speech, assembly, and free exercise of religion.
“These acts by Defendants have effectively created a no-speech zone in one of the most important public forums in the nation,” the complaint states.
Mahoney’s lawsuit was brought forth by the Center for American Liberty, and it also named the Capitol Police Board and the sergeant of arms for the Senate.
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Pelosi’s office and the White House did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s requests for comment on the matter.
