Republican bill creates crime for disrupting religious worship

A Hamilton County Republican lawmaker has filed a bill criminalizing disruption of worship services. (Photo: Karen Pulfer Focht/Tennessee Lookout)

A Hamilton County Republican is sponsoring legislation making it a state crime to disrupt religious services.

State Rep. Greg Martin of Hixson filed House Bill 2264, creating a Class B misdemeanor for deliberately interfering with religious services and activities, giving state and local law enforcement authority to respond and arrest protesters. The measure would make it illegal to trespass on or hold disruptive demonstrations in a place of worship or disturb or obstruct order and solemnity at a religious gathering.

Martin’s bill says it would preserve people’s right to protest outside religious facilities.

“Religious liberty includes the right to gather and worship in peace without being intentionally disrupted or intimidated,” Martin said in a release. “This bill sets a clear standard in Tennessee law that deliberately interfering with a worship service is not acceptable conduct and protects people of all faiths, ensuring there are clear state-level consequences for those who choose to obstruct or disturb religious gatherings. Peaceful expression is protected, but purposeful disruption inside a place of worship crosses the line.”

The bill’s filing comes three weeks after protesters disrupted services at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota where the pastor also works as an official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agency was conducting a deportation operation in Minneapolis that led to two protesters being shot and killed by federal officers. 

Two independent journalists, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon, are among several people facing charges of conspiracy and interfering with churchgoers’ First Amendment rights in connection with the church protest.

Asked whether the bill stems from the Minneapolis incident and could pose a conflict with the First Amendment, Martin said the legislation was written to guarantee those rights.

“Peaceful protest and free expression are fundamental American freedoms. However, the First Amendment does not grant you the right to disrupt, interfere with or prevent others from exercising their constitutional rights, particularly the free exercise of religion during worship services in houses of worship,” he said in a statement to the Lookout.

The Tennessee bill would apply to incidents that take place inside churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other places of worship, not lawful activity outside those buildings, according to the release.

Violations could lead to a maximum of six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.