Posted on 07/09/2015 7:46:17 AM PDT by xzins
Two Christian bakers who refused to bake a cake for a lesbian wedding have been ordered to pay $135,000 in damages by July 13 or else the state of Oregon could place a lien on their home.
Aaron and Melissa Klein, the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, were punished by the state's Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI) for unlawfully discriminating against a same-sex couple.
The Kleins, who are devout evangelical Christians, argued that baking the cake would be a violation of their religious beliefs.
The BOLI ruling ordered the mom-and-pop bakers to pay $135,000 to the lesbian couple. They were also slapped with a gag order that prohibits them from speaking publicly about their refusal to participate in or bake wedding cakes for same-sex unions.
And now they have until July 13 to pay the damages or else face additional fines and a possible lien on their home.
"This is intimidation and bullying—that's exactly what it is," Klein told me in a telephone interview." They are trying to strong-arm me into handing over $135,000 to the two girls and if I win on appeal—they will never pay me back."
A BOLI spokesman confirmed they sent a standard payment letter to the Kleins' attorney.
"The letter informs them that if we do not hear from them, we may turn the matter over to the Department of Revenue, which can place a lien on real property," the spokesman told me.
BOLI said they would also be willing to accept either a full payment or payment arrangements.
"Of course, they can also ask for a stay of enforcement while they pursue their appeal," the spokesman said.
But there's a catch. The person who will determine whether or not to stay the order—is BOLI Commissioner Brad Avakian—a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA movement.
"The judge, jury and executioner are all in one place," said Anna Harmon, the Kleins' attorney. "He is intent on using his office to root out thought and speech with which he personally disagrees."
Harmon, who is affiliated with Alliance Defending Freedom, said they were expecting the payment letter that came from BOLI.
"This letter, while it's the normal procedure, continues to show the state is not backing down," she told me. "They don't think they did anything wrong here."
Avakian's strong arm tactics against the Christian bakers have outraged Christians across the nation.
"This guy would make Mussolini proud," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research council. "This is a wannabe dictator."
It certainly appears that Avakian and the state of Oregon have declared war on the Klein family.
"Not only do they want to drive them out of business, but they want to make them homeless," Perkins told me.
The Kleins say they are filing a stay and do plan on appealing the state's decision.
"Brad and his cohorts at BOLI have overstepped their constitutional rights in requiring me to cease and desist from my constitutional freedom," Mr. Klein said. "I will fight them with every last breath I have."
Mrs. Klein said she would not be intimidated by Avakian's hard line tactics.
"We are so going to fight this, oh my gosh," she said. "It's making us stronger and emboldening us to stand up to this. Aaron and I are fighting for every American out there—for their freedom. We are not backing down at all."
And while the viciousness of the attacks against the Kleins might be unsettling—Harmon said it really should serve as a source of inspiration.
"What a time to be an American," she said. "It's a hard time—our freedoms are challenged—but what a time to be able to stand and have courage and say, 'I have a moment in time where I can be a voice for that.'"
And the Kleins are not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
"He definitely messed with the wrong Christians," Mrs. Klein told me.
Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. Sign up for his American Dispatch newsletter, be sure to join his Facebook page, and follow him on Twitter. His latest book is God Less America.
Israel is still our teacher just like throughout the bible and pointed out in the bible.
Just simply disregard what any tyrants say, plus do, and carry on.
I was thinking of something along the lines of
the Patriot Guard
surrounding their house and protecting them.
Lock and load, lock and load.
This judge should be run OUT OF TOWN.
I’m talking tar and feathers.
This is downright oppression and thuggery.
The standing up has started this week.
Easy for you to say... you’re out nothing.
Civil disobedience must engage all.
Darkness hates the light, visible for everyone to see.
If the light* in them is darkness, how great that darkness.
*A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured arc. (wiki)
It may also be argued that it violates the 14th because they are being differently treated because of their beliefs..
It would be a stretch,,,but giving ‘mo’s different rights by making them a protected class was too.
BOLI Commissioner Brad Avakian needs a visit from Cousin Vinny who’d politely ask him if he’d like to try on cement overshoes or sleep with da fishes.
Forget sugar? Gluten free would be bad enough.
My 7 year old girl grabbed some gluten free brownies that our neighbor left on the door step. She started to eat them and then warned me that the construction men nearby were trying to poison us and not to eat the brownies.
No, remember. Our libtard scholars have informed us the Freedom of Religion only extends to institutes of religion, not us serfs. Of course, they’ll change that stance in 6 months . . .
there has not been a open honest election in Oregon since 1999 when they moved all the voting to absente balloting. I am convinced the state would be republican with a libertarian rather then conservative bent if the elections were honest.
“I’d add some ingredients...”
Ah... someone has been watching “The Help.”
Trump needs to talk about this like only he can.
I predict he will. This is another MAJOR issue for flyover
Cmon Donald, pick it up!
The undesirables must be identified and removed. They stink and are a blot on our progressive society. But, let’s do it legally. Then in the name of law, we can mark them, shut down their businesses, force them out of work, pack them up and ship them off to the camps so we don’t have to see them, and where work will set them free.
They don’t exist. What happens to them in the camps is irrelevant; as long as our progressive brave new world does not have to see them or acknowledge their existence or non-existence.
Question:
Assuming the business is incorporated, this [unelected, non legislative] board of inquisition has no legal right to lien the personal home of the Kleins. That’s one of the reasons businesses incorporate in the first place. At least that’s the way I understand the law.
Any lawyers out there care to comment?
TOTALITARIANSM:
1. the practices and principles of a totalitarian regime.
2. absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution.
3. the character or quality of an autocratic or authoritarian individual, group, or government:
Among the most lethal forms of totalitarianism have been the Nazi, Soviet, Communist Chinese and Islamist, (and progressive) varieties.
What you write can’t be overstated. This judge should be in a cage.
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