An Air Force veteran was recently kicked off a base because in a speech he mentioned God.
One of the most moving events in a service member’s career often is the traditional folding of the American flag during the military retirement ceremony. But Air Force Master Sgt. Charles “Chuck” Roberson’s retirement was forever marred when airmen forcibly removed the man reciting the patriotic speech that accompanied the flag-folding ceremony—because the speech contained references to God.
Roberson asked retired Senior Master Sgt. Oscar Rodriguez to recite the flag-folding speech during his retirement ceremony at Travis Air Force Base in Sacramento, California.
A Video of the incident shows Rodriguez attempting to continue his speech even as he is being dragged into the hallway. He was subsequently escorted off the base.
Rodriguez called it “one of the most humiliating experiences of my life.”
First Liberty Institute sent a letter to senior Air Force officials informing them that the Air Force violated Rodriguez’s rights under the First Amendment free exercise and speech clauses, the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. It also claims they broke federal laws against conspiracy to violate someone’s constitutional rights. The letter asks for an official apology to Rodriguez and demands those who violated his rights be held accountable.