Amistad Project: Libertas Christian School Sues To Stop Closure By Michigan Governor Whitmer’s Administration

Through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Ottawa County Health Department, the Whitmer Administration has made repeated, unreasonable demands on the school since September 4, including that kindergarteners always wear masks while in school, including during chapel and outdoor recess. There has also been a pattern of threats of civil and criminal penalties delivered by officials.

“This violates the First Amendment rights of assembly and religion for the school’s 265 students, as well as parents and staff. It is a shocking and audacious abuse of power, which started on the first day of school on September 4, and has continued despite the unanimous ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court declaring Governor Whitmer’s related Executive Orders unlawful,” said Ian Northon, special counsel for The Amistad Project of The Thomas More Society which is representing Libertas Christian School. “The County’s animus toward religion in this case is clear and compelling,” said Northon.

“There is no one more concerned about the students’ health and safety at Libertas Christian School than their parents and the school staff. There has not been a single positive test for COVID or any cases of symptomatic students at the school and the students are healthy and thriving. The state’s actions, if allowed to prevail, will not only disrupt the children’s education and faith practice, but will do great harm to the children and others,” said Mr. Northon.

“The Whitmer Administration lost before the highest court in Michigan and is now sidestepping the Michigan Constitution to violate the most basic rights of the students and parents,” said Phill Kline, Director of the Amistad Project of the Thomas More Society. “We will strongly support the students and parents as they stand up to bullies who are willing to use the full apparatus of the state against the students and parents of Libertas Christian School.”

The Amistad Project is battling Governor Whitmer in five cases filed in various Michigan courts and “will continue to challenge Governor Whitmer who has removed herself from the lawmaking process and has instead declared herself to be the law,” Kline said. “My question for the Governor is, when did she lose faith in democracy?” Kline added.

The lawsuit, Libertas Classical Ass’n v. Whitmer, et al., case number 1:20-cv-997, was filed over the weekend to protect students. The Thomas More Society, a not-for-profit public interest law firm, is providing financial support for Libertas Christian School’s legal actions so that students and parents are not burdened by legal costs.

For more information on this and related issues, go to got-freedom.org.”