WASHINGTON, D.C. (WordNews.org) Sept. 30, 2012 – Twenty-two people  have been arrested during their participation in a religious freedom rally in front of the White House.
The rally was held to oppose President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul and a mandate they say violates their core beliefs and values.
More than 1,000 people participated in the event.
The “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” Rally is part of a national event which is being held in over 105 cities across the nation to speak out against the HHS Mandate.
“For the faith community, we can never be silent or indifferent when it comes to matters of justice, human rights and religious freedom,” said Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition. “As people of principle and faith, we must purpose in our hearts that we will never comply with an unjust or immoral government mandate which would require us to violate our conscience, the teachings of the Scriptures and the historic teachings of the church.”
The media representative wormed into the crowd, mic shoved forward. “Why are you here?” he demanded, “Why are you willing to risk arrest?”
A member of the media asked Ashley Baldwin, 23, of Covina, California, why she was participating.
“I’m here for my baby. I’m 13 weeks pregnant. And I’m standing here to guarantee that our children will be free to worship God freely in this country,” she said. “No one should have the right to take that from them.“