ONE News Now. A law firm is contesting criminal charges against a pastor who was arrested outside a public library that was hosting a “Drag Queen Story Hour.”
Attorney Brad Dacus of Pacific Justice Institute says Pastor Afshin Yaghtin is accused of obstructing police when he was denied access to the event in Spokane, Washington, that was supposedly open to the public. The pastor wasn’t at the mid-June event to disrupt it, nor was he blocked from entering because he was screaming or shouting, says Dacus.
“He was discriminated against and kept from going in the public library to see what was going on solely because of his religious beliefs and the fact that he was open about being a minister,” says the attorney, calling it an “outrageous violation” of Pastor Yaghti’s free-speech rights.
“[It’s also a violation of] his ability to be treated equally and fairly and not be treated differently simply because of his Christian beliefs and perspective,” adds Dacus.
