Rev. Mahoney v. Capitol Police
Dhillon Law Group Sues U.S. Capitol Police Board to Allow 9/11 Vigil
The Center for American Liberty, in-conjunction with Chavez-Ochoa Law Offices, Inc. and the Dhillon Law Group, Inc., filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief today on behalf of Reverend Patrick J. Mahoney.
Rev. Mahoney is a nationally and internationally known human rights activist and ordained Presbyterian minister. He has hosted prayer meetings, Bible readings, and worship services at this exact location for decades. When he sought to hold a 9/11 vigil on the Western Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 11, 2021, the defendants prevented the vigil despite the removal of the fence in July and allowing other events to take place.
"It is antithetical to the Constitution for unelected government bureaucrats and others to exhibit unfettered discretion over who is allowed to assemble on Capitol Grounds and who may not. Denying a minister and faithful parishioners the ability to pray outside the U.S. Capitol in the memory of the 9/11 tragedy is unfathomable while Congresswoman Cori Bush and others are allowed to protest at the exact same location."
"The US Capitol Building must be a place where all Americans are afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights. Tragically, those rights and freedoms are being denied and prohibited."
