(29 Jun 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dallas - 29 June 2023
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerald Groff, Christian postal worker:
“It's not really a surprise for me, to be honest. You have moments where you wonder how it's going to go. But to me, I've always knew that it was going to it was going to go the right way, that people, that the Supreme Court was going to take a look at the law and see that that our founders had in mind for freedom to be protected in America. It's why people want to come to America. It's why my forefathers came to America. It's a place of freedom, a place of protection. The state of Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn, a guy who wanted to provide a place where people were free to practice their faith. And, so, it's a I knew we were going to get it right. I knew that it was going to be about protecting freedom for people of faith in this country. And so I am thrilled for that moment. I'm still a bit of a shock, but, on my face, you can see that I am thrilled for this moment. It's it's wonderful.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Hiram Sasser, Executive General Counsel for First Liberty Institute:
"But not only does this change the case dramatically in Gerald's favor as we go back down, but it really put every person of faith in the driver's seat. Now, whenever they're talking to their employer about religious accommodations, and that could be anything from,
some some people of faith, they have certain clothing items or had headwear that they that they that they are required to wear, certain times to pray, they have certain holidays, certain days off religious observances, certain things that the company may want them to do to endorse that they their religious faith prohibits them from doing that. And and now today, for the first time in 50 years, those employees actually have a say and their rights have to be respected."
++BLACK FRAMES++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerald Groff, Christian postal worker:
"Early on in the process of this, I was told by one of my union representatives that I had about a 99.9% chance of of losing if I were to take this any further. And so today we, we followed through. I was one of the .01 percent, that we did win and we were I'm over the moon. I'm very, very excited for this moment. And I, just when the odds are stacked against you, it's when God shows up and takes care of it all. And so I'm very grateful to him and to my team for standing with me. And it's just awesome to be part of this moment."
++BLACK FRAMES++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerald Groff, Christian postal worker:
" I was just remarking that the plan is for me to fly home this weekend and right away. Sunday morning, I'll be able to just walk into church and be part of that cool moment of seeing everyone excited, you know, for what we accomplished today, and just be able to be with my family again. And it should be a really great moment to rejoice together over freedom for religion in this country being protected."
++BLACK FRAMES++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Hiram Sasser, Executive General Counsel for First Liberty Institute:
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
The Supreme Court is using the case of a Christian mailman who didn’t want to work Sundays to solidify protections for workers who are religious.
The mailman the center of the case, Gerald Groff, a former employee of the U.S. Postal Service in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country spoke to The Associated Press shortly after the ruling. Groff said he was thrilled to hear the court's decision to protect rights for workers who are religious.
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