Things continue to heat up in the controversy surrounding SB1146 and Assemblymen Reggie Jones-Sawyer’s chief of staff cursing out of a pastor who is part of the constituency from his district in Los Angeles. As reported previously Pastor Marc Little of Faithful Central Bible Church demanded the resignation of Joey Hill after receiving a profanity laced voicemail message from Hill who is Jones-Sawyers chief of staff. Hill verbally attacked Pastor Little because of his opposition letter to SB1146, which impinges on the 1st Amendment rights of Christian Institutions of higher learning. Pastor Little is reported to have received an apology from the assemblymen but to date no resignation from the staffer.
So in response to that lack of response, the faith-based community has launched a petition calling for Hill’s firing. The petition launched by Kris Baily states in part:
“Several years ago when Isaiah Washington made disparaging remarks about the LGBT Community, there was such a public outcry from this community and their supporters that, despite his most contrite apologies, Mr. Washington was fired from his job on Gray’s Anatomy. There was an even greater public outcry against Mel Gibson when he spewed racial epithets against the Jewish Community. Some would even defend the rights of the skin heads, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Nazis to spew their hatred, declaring their right to free speech under the First Amendment. Yet, Joey Hill, the chief of staff for Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, leaves a message on the voicemail of a pastor literally cursing him out, for exercising his First Amendment Rights, comparing him to the orifice in our bodies from which excrement is secreted, and the silence of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) is deafening. Shouldn’t the staff who work for the Legislature be held to an even higher standard than an actor? I am shocked and disappointed that Joey Hill still has his job.”
Here is the link to the petition
In addition to the petition a PR campaign was launched asking the Christian community in the district to get involved and let Jones-Sawyer know their displeasure in him keeping a staffer on the payroll who shows no respect for clergy or those in the community he represents. The press release states:
Mail a BAR of SOAP
Many years ago when students used inappropriate words in the classroom or mothers found their children using vulgar vocabulary, out came the bar of soap. I think it is time WE ALL SEND Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer A BAR of SOAP for his Chief of Staff, Joey Hill. Let us know when you’ve mailed the soap!
Capitol Office:
Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0059
Tel: (916) 319-2059
Fax: (916) 319-2159
District Office:
Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer
Administrative Offices West
700 Exposition Park Drive
Los Angeles CA 90037
Tel: (213) 744-2111
Fax: (213) 744-2122
I remember those days of having one’s mouth washed out for inappropriate language. I most certainly will be mailing my bar of soap to the state assemblyman. I suggest all Christians across the nation do the same. Please understand, the battle being waged in California for religious freedom will set precedence for the rest of the nation. If you want to protect the religious freedoms afforded to us in the US Constitution, then you must fight the good fight by helping Christians in California and every state that comes under attack.
