MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday aimed at protecting worship services across the state, and despite the legislative progress, several Democrats, including State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham), are not pleased with House Bill 363.
According to Democratic lawmakers, the bill is a knee-jerk reaction to the storming of a church in Minnesota led by a group of leftist protestors, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon.
During a press gaggle, Givan argued for an amendment to HB 363, directly referencing the now-independent journalist's role in the controversial event.
"I had an amendment to the bill, but cloture was invoked, and my bill was going to simply read to replace line 13 on page one with the following: 'This section shall be known as and cited as the Don Lemon Disruption of Worship Service Act," Givan said.
"The bill is dealing with the first report that came from Fox News, which reported that Don Lemon, a former CNN reporter, anchor and journalist, had been arrested for going in as a journalist," continued Givan. "[He said] I am here as a writer. I am here as a storyteller. I am not here for the purpose of being disruptive. I watched the footage back. He was not disruptive. I watched him when he spoke the words quite eloquently. He was still arrested on federal charges."
The legislator claimed that forms of worship could vary between congregations, and what might be seen as disruptive by some could be considered a normal practice by others.
"I was in church on Sunday, Love City in Birmingham. The people started running," said Givan. "It's a pretty large church, six on 20 acres. Folks were praising, they were running, they were jumping. They ran all around the sanctuary. But I, as a parishioner or someone visiting, if I deem that as disruptive. My question becomes, when is enough enough, and then who will be the trial of that? Will it really, truly be the court, or will it be those who may decide that I am acting out of sorts in a church service that is deemed to be disruptive?"
Givan accused supporters of HB 363 of attempting to "police the media, storyteller and parishioner."
"We're policing [someone] who just may yell out, "Hallelujah." Hallelujah could be offensive to some, depending on where you are. "Oh, Lord," and "Help me, Jesus," those are the types of sounds and moans and groans that come from many churches."
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