The San Francisco Unified School District will not be moving forward with a controversial equity grading strategy that was proposed this week after significant backlash.

The San Francisco Unified School District will not be moving forward with a controversial equity grading strategy that was proposed this week after significant backlash.

The San Francisco Unified School District will not be moving forward with a controversial equity grading strategy that was proposed this week after significant backlash.The strategy, known as "Grading for Equity," was presented during a SFUSD Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, according to Superintendent Maria Su, with the goal of offering "professional development opportunity in standards-based grading."Under the proposed standards, how a student scores on the final exam, which could be taken multiple times, would be what counts toward their grade for the semester, according to the Voice of San Francisco.Homework and weekly tests would not impact the grade, and neither would late assignments, tardiness to class or absence from school.COLLEGE DROPOUTS CELEBRATE AT UNCONVENTIONAL 'GRADUATION' CEREMONY IN SAN FRANCISCOThe letter-grade system would also be significantly altered, allowing students who score an 80 to receive an A and students who score as low as a 21 to pass with a D, which models the "Grading for Equity" system in the San Leandro Unified School District, Voice of San Francisco reported.The new system was supposed to be tested by 70 teachers in 14 SFUSD schools until the community, including the mayor and lawmakers, spoke out against the proposal.San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wrote on X that the younger generation is owed "an education that prepares them to succeed" and the "changes to grading at SFUSF would not accomplish that.""I have conveyed our view to SFUSD. We are optimistic that there is a better path forward for our kids and their future," he wrote, in part.TENSIONS FLARE AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AFTER TRANS ATHLETE WINS MULTIPLE TRACK EVENTSU.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., called out the proposal, sarcastically describing it as a "brilliant solution.""San Francisco has come up with a brilliant solution for its failing schools. Students simply won't be failed," Kiley wrote on X. "Under the new Grading for Equity plan, Fs are now Cs; Bs are now As; homework and tests are ungraded; truancy is unpunished; and finals can be re-taken again and again."U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., also shared his opinion on the proposed grading system on his personal X account."My immigrant dad asked me where the missing 10% went when I scored a 90. He came to America for the chance to work hard & pursue excellence. Giving As for 80% & no homework is not equityit betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids," he wrote.A statement from Su on SFUSD's X account on Wednesday said that there have been no changes to grading practices within the school district and no action was taken at the meeting.She said each student within the school district is held to a high standard and SFUSD's goal is to "support student success by prioritizing learning and mastery.""It's clear that there are a lot of questions, concerns and misinformation with this proposal. We want to make sure any changes benefit our students," Su wrote, in part.

The San Francisco Unified School District will not be moving forward with a controversial equity grading strategy that was proposed this week after significant backlash.The strategy, known as "Grading for Equity," was presented during a SFUSD Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, according to Superintendent Maria Su, with the goal of offering "professional development opportunity in standards-based grading."Under the proposed standards, how a student scores on the final exam, which could be taken multiple times, would be what counts toward their grade for the semester, according to the Voice of San Francisco.Homework and weekly tests would not impact the grade, and neither would late assignments, tardiness to class or absence from school.COLLEGE DROPOUTS CELEBRATE AT UNCONVENTIONAL 'GRADUATION' CEREMONY IN SAN FRANCISCOThe letter-grade system would also be significantly altered, allowing students who score an 80 to receive an A and students who score as low as a 21 to pass with a D, which models the "Grading for Equity" system in the San Leandro Unified School District, Voice of San Francisco reported.The new system was supposed to be tested by 70 teachers in 14 SFUSD schools until the community, including the mayor and lawmakers, spoke out against the proposal.San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wrote on X that the younger generation is owed "an education that prepares them to succeed" and the "changes to grading at SFUSF would not accomplish that.""I have conveyed our view to SFUSD. We are optimistic that there is a better path forward for our kids and their future," he wrote, in part.TENSIONS FLARE AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AFTER TRANS ATHLETE WINS MULTIPLE TRACK EVENTSU.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., called out the proposal, sarcastically describing it as a "brilliant solution.""San Francisco has come up with a brilliant solution for its failing schools. Students simply won't be failed," Kiley wrote on X. "Under the new Grading for Equity plan, Fs are now Cs; Bs are now As; homework and tests are ungraded; truancy is unpunished; and finals can be re-taken again and again."U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., also shared his opinion on the proposed grading system on his personal X account."My immigrant dad asked me where the missing 10% went when I scored a 90. He came to America for the chance to work hard & pursue excellence. Giving As for 80% & no homework is not equityit betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids," he wrote.A statement from Su on SFUSD's X account on Wednesday said that there have been no changes to grading practices within the school district and no action was taken at the meeting.She said each student within the school district is held to a high standard and SFUSD's goal is to "support student success by prioritizing learning and mastery.""It's clear that there are a lot of questions, concerns and misinformation with this proposal. We want to make sure any changes benefit our students," Su wrote, in part.

Some celebrities are reportedly worried about being called to testify in the Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking trial and have hired lawyers."I have heard that there are some celebrities worried about being called to testify and have even lawyered up trying to fight that," TMZ founder Harvey Levin tells Fox News Digital."I think [rapper Kid] Cudi and Cassie were the star witnesses, but I don't know who else the prosecution has up their sleeve," Levin said. "I dont know what's going on behind the scenes there, but they've got four weeks left of testimony before they hand it over to the defense. We will see. But what they clearly are doing is cobbling together what they claim is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that he has committed these various crimes."Levin didnt detail which celebrities might be called to testify.DIDDY EX ASSISTANT CAPRICORN CLARK DELIVERS MOST EXPLOSIVE TESTIMONY YET IN RAPPER'S FEDERAL TRIAL: EXPERTDiddy's ex, Cassie, rapper Kid Cudi and singer Dawn Richard have already taken the stand.The rapper went on trial this month after being charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.On Wednesday, arson investigator Lance Jimenez, who investigated the car fire that damaged Kid Cudis Porsche beyond repair in 2012, and Diddys former stylist both testified.Jimenez testified he believed the Porsche was targeted after Kid Cudis testimony that he thinks Diddy was involved in setting the car on fire. Kid Cudi had been dating Cassie at the time, while she was on a break from Diddy.Jimenez told the jury he believed someone lit a Molotov cocktail and dropped it into the cut-open roof of Kid Cudis car.He said he tried unsuccessfully to reach Diddys assistant at the time about the vandalism. The assistant testified she hung up on him because she "wanted this whole thing to be over." Jimenez also tried to reach Cassie.WATCH ON FOX NATION: WHAT DIDDY DO?According to Jimenez, no charges were brought in the car fire case, but he never closed the case. It is currently listed as "inactive."Following Jimenez, Diddys former stylist, Deonte Nash, testified that he witnessed the rapper threaten Cassie often, calling her names like "b----" and "s---" and allegedly warning that he would "beat her a--."He claimed he also saw Diddy hit her more than once, including a time when he came over to her house unannounced and allegedly beat her until she was bloody, telling her, "Look what you all made me do."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSNash also testified that Diddy once choked him, accusing him of going out with Cassie without his permission.The prosecution has been focused on Cassie in the Diddy trial so far, which experts previously told Fox News Digital is their "star witness."Levin told Fox News Digital if the jury believes Cassies earlier testimony that Diddy showed her a sex video from a "freak off" he filmed while on an airplane returning to New York from Cannes, threatening to release it unless she did another freak off with him in New York, "I think they could nail him certainly as it pertains to Cassie because that clearly would show coercion."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERHe added, "So, I think Diddy has a big problem there if the jury believes it. Diddy also has a problem with the interstate transportation of sex workers, I think."But Levin said he wasnt clearly seeing proof of racketeering."When you look at all of the things he did, he's burglarizing Kid Cudi's house and going not for money or drugs or jewelry or anything like that. He is going for the Christmas present that he was going to give Cassie, and then he torches Cudis car, and then makes threats against her mother. This feels like a crazed, criminal, jealous boyfriend," Levin said. "And I don't think it necessarily shows him to be a racketeer."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLevin said Diddy did allegedly use his employees to do "various things, but usually when you talk about racketeering and organized crime, you're talking about having an undercover illegal business, selling drugs, running guns, doing hits on people. He's not selling drugs. He's using people to help him buy drugs. That, to me, is not racketeer. So I have a feeling. At least at this point, the jury isnt sold on that."

A Chicago alderman says the city is taking a "giant leap in the wrong direction" after the Department of Justice announced it is investigating Mayor Brandon Johnson's hiring practices.During a May 18 service at the Apostolic Church of God, Johnson responded to people who claimed he only talked about hiring Black people."No, what Im saying is, when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet," he said. "I'm laying that out because when you ask, 'How do we ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business,' having people in my administration that will look out for the interests of everyone, and everyone means you have to look out for the interests of Black folks."Johnson mentioned top officials who serve in his administration and emphasized their race. One example included his deputy mayor of business and economic development, a Black woman.DOJ LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO BLUE STATE CITY OVER ALLEGED RACE-BASED HIRINGAfter his remarks, Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, notified Johnson his administration is being investigated to see if it utilizes discriminatory hiring practices."Considering these remarks, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above. If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions," Dhillon said.Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez told Fox News Digital he's glad the DOJ is looking into the Johnson administration's hiring practices, saying he thinks many Chicagoans have the same concern.CHICAGO'S MAYOR JOHNSON IS SO FOCUSED ON RACE HE CAN'T SEE THE TRUTH ABOUT HUMANITY"I am glad that they are looking into it. I think it validates the concerns that many Chicagoans have had that Brandon Johnson is a mayor, not for the entire city, but for only one demographic," Lopez said. "There are tens of thousands of individuals who work for the city of Chicago who feel as though they have been left out of promotions, left out of advancement or even left out from being hired as a whole even on the front line. And I think that needs to be looked into by the Department of Justice."Lopez said he thinks the city is taking steps in the wrong direction in the way it hires."This is just one sad step backwards for the City of Chicago to have the mayor articulate so passionately that he prefers to hire one ethnic demographic at the expense of all others. It doesn't make sense to me how, in the 21st century, we've done so much to try to move beyond seeing each other just solely based on race, that we are now taking a giant leap in the wrong direction," he said.The alderman said there are Black Chicago residents he talks to who disagree with Johnson when it comes to hiring decisions."Let me be 100%, 110% clear on this note. There are African Americans who don't like that statement either. There are many well-qualified leaders of departments who put blood, sweat and tears into lifting up Chicago, who now have been trivialized by his comments and are viewed through a lens of they're just here because they're Black," Lopez added.In comments made after the DOJ launched its investigation, Johnson said it came from a place of fear."You can tell when someone is fearful is because they act out," Johnson said. "We have a president that is screaming and having tantrums right now because we have an administration that reflects the city of Chicago, but he would much rather have administrations that reflect the country club. Period."Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson for comment.Fox News' Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

A Florida sheriff said law enforcement is "waiting at go" to assist the Trump administration with immigration enforcement, but worries about the lack of detention capacity.Fox News Digital spoke with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on the current status of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown."We heard President Trump loud and clear when he said start with the worst first, and let's get these illegal aliens out of the country," Judd said.However, the sheriff pointed to a significant bottleneck: the lack of federal capacity to detain migrants, and that, despite arrests, "they're turned [migrants] back into the street" due to ICEs limited resources.ICE FORCED TO RELEASE SOME ILLEGAL MIGRANTS WHO COULD POSE DANGER TO AMERICANS: IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYJudd pointed to the lack of holding facilities and the complications arising from federal rules, which generally prevent local jails from holding migrants for more than 48 hours after their release from local custody unless the jails have Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSAs) that allow for longer detention under federal authority."You see, county jails can hold them [migrants] short term if we have accompanying criminal charges, but we can't hold them long term," he said. "We're more than willing to do that with the federal government once the federal government recognizes that we're helping them they're not helping us."WATCH:ICE MAKES MAJOR MOVE ON DETAINING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN HEART OF BLUE STATEThe need for additional detention space and resources came as the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) became the first in the nation to train and deploy troopers under the federal 287(g) agreement, which authorizes designated state officers to enforce immigration law in partnership with federal agents.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the initiative is already delivering results and believes it could serve as a blueprint for other states seeking to take immigration enforcement into their own hands.Judd called for federal executive action, saying, "The president is the only one that can break this logjam."The Sunshine State, he said, is prepared to execute practical solutions, such as setting up temporary "soft side housing" for detainees, modeled after hurricane emergency shelters."Were eager to make it happen. Were sitting on go," he said, while criticizing the lack of support. "The federal government doesn't have the infrastructure to hold them, nor are they willing to pay when we offer the infrastructure."Judd defended ICE personnel, acknowledging their efforts despite what he describes as inherited limitations from the previous Biden administration."But they are limited," he said. "They're severely limited because they're operating with the resources that the Biden administration left them with. And the Biden administration wasn't into deporting people. They were into importing people."The sheriff said stricter detention policies will serve as a deterrent for migrants."We've got to stop the game playing, and only the federal government can do it," he said.Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE for comment.Fox News' Danamarie McNicholl contributed to this report.

Bones that mysteriously washed up on the Jersey Shore over the past three decades were recently identified, thanks to cutting-edge technology and diligent students.Ramapo College announced the discovery in a May 21 press release. The remains were identified as belonging to Henry Goodsell, a captain who died in an 1844 shipwreck off the coast of South Jersey's Brigantine Shoal. (See the video at the top of this article.)The ship was carrying 60 tons of marble for Girard College, a preparatory school, when it sprung a leak and sank.DIVERS UNCOVER MYSTERIOUS 2,500-YEAR-OLD SHIPWRECK, FILLED WITH UNUSUAL ARTIFACTS, OFF COAST OF SICILYGoodsell's bones didn't wash up until over a century later, when they were found on various beaches in the Garden State."A skull washed ashore in Longport in 1995, and more bones were found in Margate in 1999, both in Atlantic County," Ramapo College's statement noted. "In 2013, additional remains were found in Ocean City, Cape May County.""Scattered Man John Doe went without a name for 30 years since traditional methods of investigation could not deliver an identification."Cairenn Binder, assistant director of the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center, told Fox News Digital that her team conducted traditional DNA testing to find a matching profile in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a national DNA profile database."While there was no missing person sample on file that matched with the profiles from the bones, the bones all matched one another, so thats how [the New Jersey State Police] learned they were all connected before we began working on the case," she said.METAL DETECTORISTS DISCOVER HOARD OF PRICELESS GOLD COINS DATING BACK TO BIBLICAL TIMESOver the past several months, Ramapo students have gleaned various details about Goodsell's life from old newspapers.He was 29 years old when he died, and his ancestors were among the earliest settlers in Connecticut."Capt. Goodsells ancestors lived in Litchfield and Fairfield Counties in Connecticut and had all been there since the 1600s some of the earliest European Americans," Binder said."He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, but lived in Boston from at least the late 1830s."Goodsell also left behind a wife and two children when he perished; his family was financially devastated by the shipwreck.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle"The news reported that his family was left in very embarrassed circumstances after the captains death," Binder said."There was a fundraiser held for Capt. Goodsells widow a year after his death," she also said. Reports were that "she was destitute."Five or six other crew members were on the vessel, Binder noted, and all of them are believed to have died.One was found and buried while the others were lost at sea.Binder described the discovery as "extremely rare," noting that Ramapo researchers have not been able to find an older case where IGG was used to successfully identify remains.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"There are a handful of cases where remains more than 100 years old have been identified with IGG, but this is the oldest we have been able to find," she said."We believe that more identifications like these will be made now that we have the advances in technology to make them happen," she added.Authorities from various New Jersey law enforcement offices were also involved in the research.In a statement, Cape May County prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said the same technology is used to "bring offenders to justice.""The hard work of Ramapo Colleges IGG Center and working with the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit has demonstrated the power and accuracy of this new technology combined with classic detective work in solving complex cold cases that will bring offenders to justice and provide closure to victims' families," he noted.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, 40 Days for Life President and CEO Shawn Carney praised Texas lawmakers for passing legislation that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom in the state.The bill, approved by both chambers of the state Legislature and now awaiting Gov. Greg Abbotts signature mandates that each classroom feature a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments that is at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall, and legible from anywhere in the room.If signed, the law would take effect in the 202526 school year.SUPREME COURT WEIGHS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DISPUTE OVER PUBLIC FUNDING FOR CATHOLIC CHARTER SCHOOL"This is great," Carney said. "The Ten Commandments are good. It's basically the moral code for most people who have ever lived. No matter what their belief system, most people dont believe we should steal, kill, or commit adultery."Its a beautiful thing," he added. "Im proud to be a Texan where theyre supporting this, and its something that we need in the classrooms."Carney, who leads what he describes as the worlds largest pro-life organization, operating in 64 countries, linked the legislation to a broader cultural shift. On its website, the group explains it is "an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses.""These are good things - allowing a baby to live is good," Carney said. "The Ten Commandments are good."TEACHERS UNION BOSS RANDI WEINGARTEN SHARES HER 'CONCERN' WITH SCOTUS CASE ON LGBTQ BOOKSAddressing constitutional concerns, Carney pushed back on the argument that the legislation violates the First Amendments Establishment Clause."We have Moses in the U.S. Capitol. Nobodys ever raised a stink about that," he said. "Having the Ten Commandments, something that has been celebrated throughout generations of Americans who have gone before us, having those in the school is just not a big deal."Carney also emphasized that the historical intent behind the separation of church and state was to protect religious freedom, not to eliminate religious references from public institutions."Jefferson wanted separation of church and state to protect the Church," he said, citing recent federal actions he views as infringing on religious liberty. "We saw the Biden administration try to force Catholic doctors to perform abortions or prescribe contraception. We need to protect the Church."He framed the bill as part of a broader backlash against what he described as a secular, "woke mentality" that he believes has eroded moral clarity."Our schools are violent. They are places that need the Ten Commandments," Carney said. "Even if you dont believe in God, you should be able to learn about God."Theres been this push that believing in God is archaic," he continued. "This bill is another step in the right direction."Although the Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Stone v. Graham (1980), Carney believes Texass effort will survive legal challenges."I do think itll survive the legal battles," he said. "Revisiting this with a new Supreme Court is very wise and something that needs to be done."Carney also sees the law as a potential model for other states."Texas has set the bar high," he said. "This does set a precedent. Most atheists believe in the Ten Commandments. They are the basis of Western civilization."Looking to the future, Carney hopes the bill encourages greater moral formation nationwide."The ideal result is that more states do this over the next five or 10 years," he said. "We need guidance. We dont do very well on our own.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"The Ten Commandments point us to good. To discipline. To truth. To love. And to mercy," he added. "They help us know whats right from wrong. We all grow in virtue by learning and following the Ten Commandments, no matter our religious background."Texas would join Louisiana and Arkansas, which have already passed similar laws.Supporters of the legislation say the commandments represent a foundational code of conduct, while critics warn it could face constitutional scrutiny in federal court, FOX 4 reported.

The Justice Department accused a small city in northern Idaho of religious discrimination after it denied a zoning permit to a local evangelical church seeking to hold worship services.The DOJ announced on May 20 it had filed a lawsuit alleging the city of Troy, Idaho, violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) after it denied a conditional use permit to Christ Church to hold services in its downtown C-1 zoning district, where nonreligious assembly uses such as clubs, museums, auditoriums, and art galleries were allowed.The RLUIPA is federal legislation passed in 2000 thats intended to "protect individuals, houses of worship, and other religious institutions from discrimination in zoning and landmarking laws," the DOJ states.According to the lawsuit, Christ Church, a small but quickly growing evangelical church based in Moscow, Idaho, sought to accommodate its growth in September 2022 by establishing another church campus in the neighboring town of Troy.SEATTLE MAYOR BLAMES CHRISTIAN RALLY FOR INSPIRING VIOLENT ANARCHISTS WHO INFILTRATED COUNTER-PROTESTThe conservative, evangelical church faced opposition from some in the Moscow community over the years because of its beliefs and influence in the liberal college town, with some residents boycotting businesses tied to the church, according to the Spokesman-Review.The church made national headlines in September 2020 after a few of its members were arrested for not wearing masks at an outside worship service protesting the city's mask mandate during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.Senior Pastor Douglas Wilson faced criticism for his provocative writings and allegations he wants to make America a "Christian theocracy," according to a recent article from Politico.Christ Church allegedly reached out to various locations in Troy to rent on weekends for services, without success. In November 2022, Matt Meyer, an elder at the church and Troy resident, purchased a vacant, former bank in the citys downtown business district with the intention of converting part of the property into a space to be used by the church for worship services and church meetings, while the other part of the property would be rented out as an event space for the community.RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BATTLE ERUPTS AS NEW JERSEY TOWN ATTEMPTS TO TURN CHURCH PROPERTY INTO PICKLEBALL COURTSMeyer applied for a conditional use permit and told the city he failed to find another suitable space to hold services in Troy. In his application, he said there would be little impact on the surrounding businesses and his purchase of the vacant building would bring in property tax revenue for the city.After holding a public hearing on the matter where locals expressed strong opposition to the permit request, the Troy City Council rejected the church's application in March of that year.According to the DOJ, the city council denied the permit on the basis that the church "did not enhance the commercial district."Furthermore, the city council argued the majority of locals were against granting the church a permit in this zone and the decision would burden residents and businesses by creating traffic and parking issues in the city, whose population is fewer than 1,000 people.In their lawsuit filed on Christ Church's behalf, the DOJ questioned how the city justified the denial on the basis of several of its arguments.TECH COMPANY REVERSES POLICY AFTER CHRISTIAN GROUP SUES FOR RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATIONThe lawsuit questioned why the city told Meyer he could use the building for other community events, which had no retail purpose, and these would be considered to "enhance the commercial district" and be allowed under the city's zoning law.They claimed the city did not conduct a traffic study, or offer conditions that could be imposed on the church to ameliorate the traffic and parking concerns.Many of the public comments at the public hearing demonstrated "animus and discrimination against Christ Church, its members, and their religious beliefs," the lawsuit also claimed.The DOJ lawsuit accuses the city of Troy of violating RLUIPA by not treating Christ Church on "equal treatment" with nonreligious assemblies through its zoning code, by imposing a "substantial burden" on the church's religious exercise and by discriminating against Christ Church on the "basis of religion."City of Troy attorney Todd Richardson rejected the DOJ's discrimination allegations in an interview with Fox News Digital. He said theyve allowed Christ Church to hold services in the building for the past two years, while the investigation has been ongoing, and they have cooperated fully with federal investigators.TRUMP ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING TASK FORCE TO ERADICATE ANTI-CHRISTIAN BIASThe city attorney accused the Justice Department of using "bullying tactics" to try to force their hand.The case isn't about religion, he said, but about the city preserving the two-block downtown area as a commercial district and resisting the influx of as many as 15% of its population gathering at one location and putting a "strain on the citys limited resources.""We have no complaints about Christ Church being in town. We have concerns about overwhelming that zone," he said.Matt Meyer, the elder at Christ Church who filed a complaint with the DOJ over the dispute, told Fox News Digital that the church would be happy to work with the city to accommodate any of its concerns, such as parking restrictions, but city leaders "have never asked us for any sort of conditions" to do so.He found the city's allegations about parking and impacting businesses unfounded, saying many of the buildings in this downtown area are vacant, and the town is "largely empty" on Sunday mornings.Meyer attended the public hearing where many residents spoke out against the church permit being granted. He referred to the hostile comments made by some in the community toward the church, as mentioned in the DOJ lawsuit, to argue they likely played a role in the city council's decision."It seems logical that elected officials could be influenced by a vocal group of residents even if that group is a minority, but I cant read the mind of the city council," he said.In April 2025, Troy passed an interim zoning ordinance that changed many of the previously permitted uses in the business district to "not permitted," including auditoriums, community centers, civic and fraternal organizations, parks, playgrounds, schools, museums, libraries, and movie theaters, and prohibits churches as a conditional use, according to the lawsuit.In its press release, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said, "RLUIPA unequivocally forbids local governments from deciding zoning matters based on their dislike of certain religious groups. The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that discriminate in land use matters on the basis of the applicants religious beliefs."Christ Church pastor Douglas Wilson told Fox News Digital that public backlash to his opinions shouldn't be a factor in how city leaders treat his church."The content of things that I say should have nothing to do with whether a church is allowed to meet. You don't approve a religious assembly based upon your disagreement with certain views expressed."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe Justice Department told Fox News Digital it did not have further comment on the matter.