Christian Company Sues Defense Department
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Christian Company Sues Defense Department
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This story has been ongoing, but the legal team for the jewelry company filed lawsuit to stop the DOD from discriminating against them.
From Stars and Stripes. A years-long dispute over the use of licensed military logos on religious-themed replica dog tags has resulted in a federal lawsuit against the Defense Department. The decision to deny the use of licensed logos alongside Christian Bible verses is religious discrimination, according to the lawsuit.
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Shields of Strength, a Christian jewelry company based in Beaumont, Texas, filed the lawsuit Dec. 15 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Tyler. Named defendants include the Defense Department and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, as well as the trademark offices and related leadership for the service branches.
The products in question are replica dog tags that feature faith-based, inspirational phrases or Christian Bible verses on one side and the logo of a military service branch on the other side. Shields of Strength owner Kenny Vaughan began making the tags in 1998 and received a trademark license in 2011 from the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, which is when the military began requiring them, according to the lawsuit. At that time the Navy did not grant the license because of the religious nature of the products.
The company lost its agreements in 2019 after a group that advocates for the separation of religion from the military, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, submitted complaints to Defense Department trademark offices, according to the lawsuit.
In the years since, the company has been trying to navigate a new agreement, but ultimately felt it had to file a lawsuit, said Mike Berry, general counsel for First Liberty Institute and attorney for Shields of Strength….
The Defense Department denial of a trademark license is “purely because of the religious content,” Berry said….
The lawsuit asks for the court to recognize the violation of constitutional rights under the first amendment, and for the Defense Department to allow the company to return to their previous agreement to use the licensed logos on its products. The lawsuit also calls for a financial reward related to damages, attorneys’ fees and expenses….
Mikey Weinstein, a former Air Force JAG officer and current founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, has said that to put military logos onto religious-themed products is a violation of the licensing agreement. He said he initially sent a letter to the Defense Department about Shields of Strength because his organization received numerous complaints, including from many people who identified themselves as Christian….
How are you praying for Shields of Strength? Share this article to encourage others to pray.
(Excerpt from Stars and Stripes. Photo Credit: Getty Images)
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Father, I pray that Shields of Strength would win their lawsuit and once more be able to print their dogtags. May the judges recognize the freedom of religion in the constitution and stand on this amendment!
As the Lord shows you utter defeat, remember this Mikey Weinstein I have prayed this prayer of faith for you.
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד׃
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
Sh’ma Yisra’el, YHWH ‘eloheinu, YHWH ‘eḥad
Baruch shem kevod malchuto le’olam va’ed
Hear, O Israel! Adonai is our God! Adonai is One
Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever.
In Hebrews we read, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” I pray the terror Mr. Weinstein feels brings him into heart breaking, Godly sorrow. May he repent and be saved. The alternative is truly terrifying. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Amen. May Mikey Weinstein’s heart be broken as the heart of Jesus Christ is broken. The power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Christ Jesus I hold and Mikey Weinstein to you dear Jesus.
Amen
Lord God, thwart these evil plans. Do not let the power that has been misused via the pandemic continue to be perpetrated. We pray that increased vaccine mandates will not stand. Do not let Biden cede United States health authority to the World Health Organization. Make all ratified, freedom-stealing amendments and treaties, worldwide, become null and void. We pray that all global health magnates would not have consensus in plans they may seek to make. Let all other related plans harmful to sovereignty and freedom fall apart, fruitless. Annihilate the World Health Organization’s ratified Pandemic Treaty. Preserve our freedoms and sovereignty in every country, island, territory, and nation, worldwide.