Criminally Charged While Helping Carry a Cross to Spread the Gospel

Two Christians face criminal charges for nothing more than peacefully exercising their constitutional rights – a sobering reminder that religious freedom requires constant vigilance.

Carter and Bethany Phillips were sitting in a car while Bethany’s father carried a wooden cross to bring attention to the Christian faith.

Our clients were doing nothing wrong when officers approached them after receiving a report of a “suspicious vehicle.” Our clients simply exercised their Fourth Amendment rights and in return were handcuffed, taken to jail, and charged with resisting arrest.

The facts are unmistakable: At no point did either of them resist arrest or obstruct law enforcement. They simply exercised their constitutional right to decline identification when no reasonable suspicion of criminal activity existed.

We will not rest until justice prevails for these believers and the constitutional principles that protect all Americans’ religious liberty are upheld.