Los Angeles Denied Permit to Christian Group But Approved Permit for ‘Pride’ Parade and ICE Protests — LA, Karen Bass, and Police Chief Get Sued

Why did the city of Los Angeles deny a public forum permit for a Christian event but approve one for a “pride” parade and ICE protests? The better question is why would bureaucrats do something so blatantly anti-Christian in the age of Trump and in the wake of recent court victories for religious freedom?

Liberty Counsel (LC) represents the organizers of Mayday USA, a “grassroots revival event.” Participants would speak against abortion, pornography, and human trafficking. The organization asked for a permit to speak on Hollywood Boulevard, a traditional public forum.

The city denied the request for a permit. LC said the organization planned Mayday revival events in New York, Miami, Houston, Seattle, and Los Angeles. An excerpt (emphasis added):

The events were permitted and held in the first four cities, though the City of Seattle conspicuously denied organizers their location of choice and only granted it to be held in a predominantly LGBTQ neighborhood. During the event, gender-confused and antifa rioters dressed in black and wearing face masks assaulted the Christians in attendance where police eventually had to shut the event down.

Bureaucrats in LA used the violent incidents in Seattle as an excuse to stop the Christian event in LA. As LC stated, their own mayor encouraged ICE protests — even when they turned violent. But LA turns down a peaceful, Christian event?

The city required the Mayday revival event organizers to jump through hoops to hold a peaceful event: the Christian group had to adhere to requirements not in the code. For example, the group had to petition business owners and vendors to ensure at least 51 percent approved of the Mayday revival event.

Imagine if a “pride” organizer had to do this in a conservative town. The news would go global.

The Christian organizers filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass, and Chief of Police Jim McDonnell. Will the city’s lawyers defend the parties in court with a straight face?

“The City of Los Angeles may not pick and choose which groups are allowed First Amendment rights of free expression or religious freedom,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of LC. The Constitution is clear that religious freedom is inalienable. Liberty Counsel is defending these ministries because silencing the peaceful public expression of Christian viewpoints cannot be tolerated.”