Jackson Jambalaya

This is Christian Persecution plain and simple. If we are truly living in the end times, then let no man or woman stand against the servants of Jesus!

I do have to agree with past posters, this shit is getting out of hand. Betting all will be tossed in court.

This is how it begins. You are going to eventually be so afraid, hungry and broke that you submit to whatever they demand. Whether it be to stop worshipping the Lord, or to take their vaccines and tracking devices.

I don’t get people believing they are persecuted in Mississippi for being Christian. How big of a victim complex do you have? Come back to reality folks, sucks you got a ticket but don’t try and pretend it is a way to stop or slow down Christianity.

This is a black church in a predominantly black city with a predominantly black executive leadership including the chief of police and mayor. I listened to the video of the white guy who was being ticketed and it showed others receiving tickets and the cop mentioned an AUGUST court date. Imagine these folks being rousted by the Po Po and wondering for the next four months where they're going to get five hundred bucks. Tickets will either be canceled or tossed out in court.

Hope Errick Simmons enjoys his last term as mayor.

To 9:36.....and I'm sure you REALLY don't want to take our guns either; do you ???

I seriously doubt that those ticketed are telling us the entire story. I'd need to do a little social media sleuthing to see the back story, but I don't care enough to do it.

Looks to me like people in Mississippi are very easily triggered when they can't do exactly what they want to do.

Is there any data showing that sitting 8-10 feet apart in cars in a parking lot poses any significant risk of transmission?

The burden should be on the city to produce that evidence. If they can't, this is just petty authoritarianism and should end.

Easy to claim the churches,wedding,funerals etc are the cause of the rise in Mississippi or Greenville. How about putting the data where you mouth is! This has become a liberal talking point over the last few weeks. They are starting to blame churches and christian family's for everything from Katrina to who shot JR. Buckle up!

The town is losing an ave. Of 725 people a year and has been for 20 years. The sad thing is, of those leaving, they are the most affluent. The poorest can’t afford to leave. I grew up there(and left). This obviously is an ill advised scheme to rob the “have nots” It makes me sick seeing my home deteriorating like this. I don’t know what the answer is, but this is not it.

I'm waiting for the court cases to begin showing up in the future over this and other violations of civil rights. Also waiting for the Lawyer TV adds to begin.

@10:20 Have you seen the pictures from other drive-in services? The people don't stay in their cars. They get out, sit on the tailgates or hoods and shoot the crap with the other attendees. If people could be depended on to actually remain in their cars with the windows up it wouldn't be an issue, problem is they won't.

Christians and Nominal Christians do not face "persecution" in the United States (at this time). Those who claim alleged persecution here do a grave disservice to brothers and sisters in Christ living in North Korea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, etc., etc.

We did it reddit! we taught those Xtians a lesson!
Athiests: +1
Xtians: -100

edit: thanks for the gold kind stranger!

Be nice if they required people to go out, on threat of fine it they didn't.

Then no one would go, cause "The Gubbernment ain't telling me what to do!"

The minute they tried to give me a ticket for some BS like that, is the minute I take the city to court and I wouldn't lose. These po-lice are taking this too far and constitutional rights are being trampled on. Same with PRVWSD. They think they "own" everything in their jurisdiction and can make rules at will. It's about time for someone to scream boogaloo!

I can see the argument for the law being enforced, as the statewide order was pretty cut and dry in what is allowed. Too bad that they couldn’t figure out how to use Skype meetings.

Wait a second. Police won't write a police report for an accident in a parking lot because they use the excuse "its private property" and they don't have jurisdiction, yet they will write a ticket for this?

Yep, the lawsuits are coming.
It will be as bad the CoVid-19 virus.

Absolute shame all around. On the Mayor and City Counsel for issuing the order, on the cops who handed out tickets, and on any judge looking to enforce the tickets. We have a shortage of common sense.

"Is there any data showing that sitting 8-10 feet apart in cars in a parking lot poses any significant risk of transmission?"

Does it matter? Do they get to make that call? The order is to stay home unless you're going to work, groceries, or for healthcare. Period. They, actually, were specifically warned against doing what they did. The order didn't say "unless everyone is in their car" -- or "if everyone is wearing a mask". It says a gathering greater than 10 people.

This is another example of Mississippians trying to be too cool for school or believing the rules don't apply to them. Just follow the rules. Do you think none of these people stopped for gas on the way home? Did they all go straight home? We don't know -- which is why the order is in place to begin with.

We don't get to split hairs in an emergency. You defy an order, you get a ticket. Period.

Stay home.

"This is Christian Persecution plain and simple. If we are truly living in the end times, then let no man or woman stand against the servants of Jesus!"

And if this happened to muslims, I'm sure you'd feel the exact same way. Right.

If it happened to the Muslim community you can bet your sweet ass every non conservative talking head in the US would be chastising dumb ole mississippi. Just like the one from New York trying to lecture us on Tate signing confederate whatever it was. Every governor both R and D has done it every year for as long as I can remember. You would figure New York has its own issues with its own Governor to deal with. But back to if it happened to Muslims, yes, it would be the talk of the nightly news for a long time.

It's less than 11, not less than 10.

Oh, and it's "are less than..." not "is less than..."

every one who received a "summons" should demand a jury trial. The city will be hard pressed to PROVE these folks created any sort of hazard to others. This was an arbitrary show of tyrannical behavior by their public servants.Any further abuses dished out by the good mayor and his goons should be dealt with summarily at the ballot box straight away!

On election day the mayor & police chief should be kicked out of office!

Black police officer told the white member of the white church that the black mayor wanted to "make an example" of them.

I think we all know what would happen if this was the other way around.

@ 3:17. I whole heartedly agree. Over load the system and take it higher if need be. Watch politicians start working at Sprint Mart.

Zoom is Chinese. Why do none of you realize you are installing Chinese malware? Just like TikTok and several dozen other Chinese apps.

@ 12:49, actually, you've not carefully read the governor's EO. People sitting isolated in their vehicles do not breach the "over 10 persons on the same area." If that did, then the Sonic Drive In would be a non-conforming "gathering in the same area." Each vehicle is its own "area" and that's the way it's being enforced state-wide. Targeting drive-in religious services while allowing cars to congregate at Wal-mart, Sonic, McDonalds, etc., is illegitimate.

Also, "religious services" are classified as "essential businesses and operations" along with food providers, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. and thus the people involved in them ARE permitted to leave their homes to carry out those religious services.

Some people might not like it, but Governor Reeves carefully carved out houses of worship from the order to close.

John Pittman Hey

@4:25, if it were the other way around you would be praising the officer and calling the church goers law breaking thugs and you know it.

12:49, here, John Pittman Hey...

You apparently didn't read the Greenville City order, which is what was used to fine these citizens.

The Governor can declare what he wishes, but he made very clear that his order was a 'baseline' order and that cities could carve additional restrictions out if they wished. He even clarified this after the confusion with Oxford's Mayor.

If you feel Greenville's order is illegal or unconstitutional, and if you have standing (surely you're not armchair quarterbacking on a blog), then file a complaint and seek an injunction. You can't simply choose to ignore it. Otherwise, let the citizens of Greenville be and pitch in for the 'religiously oppressed' to pay their fine - I'm sure they're taking donations.

Mr. Pittman Hey - With all due consideration for your lofty office, I suggest you read the Greenville ordinance. The Governor's edict establishes floor levels. A municipal ordinance, like this one, raises the price of poker. "Drive In Services" are specifically prohibited.

Greenville is a cess pool and has been for a long time. You can't drink the water in that place. I hope this isn't a petty money grab.

Any Mississippian who thinks they are victims of Christian persecution is delusional.

One call, that's all.

People ate watching this case from other states as well because precedents are being set. The Governor did not intend things to be handled this way. Google the video of the Gov. Talking with a Bishop in Natchez regarding in- person church services. He stated, “I was asked about Bishop Stanley Searcy’s church in Natchez and whether we had the right to shut it down,” Reeves said. “I don’t believe that I do and frankly I’m glad to live in a country where that is true, and I’m proud to live in a state where that is true, but I do have the right to call the bishop, man-to-man and let him know what we are seeing from the data. I can ask him as a fellow Christian to take this extra step to protect the community. That’s what I did, and he has graciously agreed to ensure that he would come before us today.”

Doesn't sound to me like his mandate was intended to be used this way. Not with force and certainly not tickets for drive- in no contact church services.

Simple. Have your car church services in the Walmart parking lot.

Just thinking to myself....you know there no other place I’d rather be throughout all this BS other than the great state of Mississippi. Where else can ya be entertained throughout a pandemic?

Well, since the first attempt didn't pass muster, I'll try this:

Anyone who really thinks the "government" suspension of civil rights in the plot to subjugate America begins with a black mayor telling his black police chief to go issue tickets at a black church - in Greenville-fucking-Mississippi - is batshit crazy. Not just plain ol' crazy, mind you, totally batshit crazy.

So going to Walmart or to the gas station is okay but going driving to a church parking lot garners a $500 fine?

Something is bad wrong here, including from those who defend asinine action with asinine posts.

Greenville police busted up another church's meeting tonight after the mayor was warned by the church's attorney not to violate the members' religious freedom.

Maybe next time they’ll organize a to-go bake sale/sermon.

This is a 2 for one...Restricting your rights...and 500.00 tickets at church make up for lost tax revenue.

When do we start voting from the rooftops?

It looks like First Amendment to the United States Constitution down not apply to Greenville, MS. I wonder how they got an exemption?

914 kinda like that michigan ad’s comment? Uh huh
And Guv’s essential is the essential- cities cant restrict further who is essential and who Isnt https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/us/mississippi-coronavirus-essential-businesses-tate-reeves.html

FIXED: It looks like the First Amendment to the United States Constitution does not apply to Greenville, MS. I wonder how they got an exemption?

The wording in the mayor's notice is legally deficient on its face. It should be "may," not "can."

Regardless, it is also clearly unconstitutional. Re: First Amendment.

I hope y'all in Greenville have "one call, that's all" on speed-dial.

Cha ching.

https://www.deltanews.tv/news/local/local-pastors-meet-in-greenville/article_4c5a7d5a-7aa7-11ea-bc69-3baa6f4d1cba.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share&fbclid=IwAR1g8SbHchrJ5Y9AVbHIwK_deaieTyCUqeRDBgWg1yCmhjKqbe9udK6mMzg

@6:04 and 6:26 PM, I have tried to review the text of the actual EO, since the Press Release from Mayor Simmons does not track your characterization of Greenville's "enhanced" orders.

So far, his press secretary hasn't responded to my request for emailed copies of the full text of the orders. I did look on the Greenville city website but couldn't locate them there either.

But generally, I don't agree with you that the churches should just "obey the law" as you put it. Churches have disobeyed the law since Christ rose from the dead, whenever the law ran contrary to Christians' duties of worship to God. The Greenville churches were able to find a way to worship that complied with the Governor's EO.

I hope that some of the premier public advocacy groups will take this to court.

By the way, I possess no "lofty office" at all, and have never pretended to.

John Pittman Hey

Soon 11:33, real soon!

11:30 claims to have seen video of such church service where people were sitting on their cars hoods talking. But 11:30 offered no link to such a video.

I saw a video of the ticketing in Greenville. The only people outside of their cars were the cops handing out tickets. Please note that there would have been no human interaction at the drive in church service had the cops not demanded the people to roll down there windows to go through the process of getting the ticket, including signing the ticket with a pen from a cop who was not wearing gloves.

But when people deceive to build the narrative, it shows that dignity gets trampled as long as the false narrative can be built.

If Pittman Hey is correct, and no order has been published and none is available for inspection (which I doubt), then there ya go. Nobody is required to abide by an unpublished edict. Perhaps the honorable Counselor Hey will represent these folk and his first comment to the judge will be "Your honor, What Ordinance?" Summary Judgment.

So they need to close all Sonics! Oh and love how the cop is practicing guidelines with NO gloves. He is probably infectious and passing out tickets infecting everyone!

Really and truly? This is even an ISSUE? Oh, stop it, stop it. The idea that people need to huddle and herd en masse (no pun intended for fellow Catholics) to get their spiritual sustenance is a truly silly thing. Light a candle, read your most comforting scripture (or a Yeats poem, whatever) and STAY THE F**K home. Y’all can group-hug later, maybe. Or not.

(Oops, blooper alert, before anyone leaps in to correct me: Mass is “messe” in French, nit “masse.”

Summary Judgment @ 9:20 AM, it never ceases to amaze me how anonymous commentors insist on ad hominem replies to substantive matters. I never said no order was published. What I said was, I hadn't been able to find one. The mayor's press secretary has so far failed to reply to my emailed request for a copy 48 hours ago.

I never claimed to be an attorney, or hold any other exalted position at all.

Why do people find it so hard to rationally address the issues at hand, rather than engaging in ludicrous and unhelpful snark?

But at last I did find a copy of the order, and just as I thought, it did not track the summary that its supporters above provided.

It did not require people to "just stay home" or any such thing. It did not apply to people gathering in their parked cars at Walmart or Sonic or anywhere else BUT in a church parking lot.

It modified the Governor's EO in only ONE WAY: targeting church services. While the Governor's EO included "church gatherings" as "essential operations," the Greenville EO targets ONLY church gatherings.

So no, the Greenville EO was not a sweeping tightening of the Governor's EO. It was ONLY targeted at church meetings, including those which comply with CDC mandates.

I agree with Governor Reeves and many others, that the government simply does not have the authority to shut down houses of worship. The Mississippi Constitution is too clear on the matter.

But that obviously won't stop some from trying.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.