Scores of supporters came to the state Capitol this afternoon for an hour-long rally in support of S.B. 129 and H.B. 218, the two religious liberty bills before the Legislature.
Kelvin Cochran, the sacked Atlanta fire chief, and state Rep. Sam Teasley, R-Marietta, author of H.B. 218, were in attendance. State Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, sponsor of S.B. 129, was out with the flu.
The event was sponsored by leaders of the Georgia Baptist Convention and several conservative religious groups, including Concerned Women for America of Georgia, the Faith and Freedom Coalition, Georgia Conservatives in Action, and Georgia Right to Life.
The general theme was the interference of government in matters of faith. A few lines from three of the speakers:
-- Bishop Garland Hunt, pastor of the Father’s House in Norcross:
"As we see ISIS beheading Christians in the Middle East, we in America cannot let our government take our heads off to keep us quiet. We will not check our beliefs at the door when we go to work."
-- The Rev. Ernest Easley, pastor of Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta:
"To the Senate, to the House, to the governor, we're here today to say to you, pass the bill – and don't water it down by amendment."
-- The Rev. Derik Lawrence, senior pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Loganville:
"I spent some time last night on the Internet. Some of the things that are being stated about our representatives are nothing less than persecution. They're being called out. They're being lied about. They need our prayers."
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