Following the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, Brad Tumey wanted to hold a candlelight prayer vigil on the City of Morristown’s downtown green space. On September 15, Mr. Tumey called the City to inquire about the use of the downtown green for this event and was informed that a permit to use the downtown green for a prayer vigil would not be approved per City Ordinance § 9-204. The ordinance states: “No one shall engage in…political or religious activities on the [downtown green] premises.”
Believing a blanket ban on religious activity was wrong, Mr. Tumey submitted an application on Wednesday, September 17, to conduct the prayer vigil on the downtown green that Friday, September 19. Noting the City’s request to submit permit applications 30 days in advance, he submitted an additional event permit application for another prayer vigil on October 17, to correspond near Kirk’s birthday.
Mr. Tumey hoped the City would follow constitutional law and permit his vigil, but the City denied his permit request, relying on the local ordinance mentioned above as basis. In response to this violation of the First Amendment, First Liberty Institute sent a demand letter to city officials addressing this constitutional shortcoming.
In the demand letter, First Liberty attorneys pointed out the discrimination in the City’s permitting process, allowing a wide variety of activities while explicitly banning religious activities. The letter states, “The City welcomes the public to reserve the downtown green for both public and private events, such as car shows, concerts, corporate meetings, or even family gatherings. Yet, any religious activity is outright banned. Though a local business could gather with its employees to engage in team-building exercises, a local church leadership team could not. The question at the core of the City’s decision to approve or deny a permit is whether religion is involved.”
After releasing a public statement designed to minimize the conflict, the City confirmed its religious ban in its reply to First Liberty’s demand letter, affirmatively denying Mr. Tumey’s candlelight prayer vigil permit. The City mentioned an unsubstantiated scheduling conflict, but ultimately rested its denial on City Ordinance § 9-204, emphasizing that they do not allow religious events in the public venue.
Following this exchange, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti weighed in with a formal letter to the City of Morristown, TN criticizing the local ordinance that prevents Mr. Tumey from holding a prayer vigil on the downtown green space. The Tennessee AG warned, “Tennessee law prohibits denying a person the full and equal enjoyment of a public accommodation on the grounds of religion. Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-501…. Should Morristown enforce Section 9-204 as written, the City would be treating activities differently on the basis of religion and would therefore be in violation of Tennessee’s Human Rights Act…”
AG Skrmetti’s letter can be read here.
In response to the letters received from First Liberty Institute and the Tennessee Attorney General, the City has agreed to approve the candlelit prayer vigil planned for October 17th on the downtown green. Additionally, in early October, the Morristown City Council is set to vote on whether to remove the prohibition against religious activities from its ordinance. Mr. Tumey is hopeful that the City Council will see the light and overturn its unconstitutional ordinance, freeing up the downtown green for religious events like his prayer vigil.
“Mr. Tumey simply wants to use the downtown green space to bring people together for prayer,” said Nate Kellum, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “We are optimistic that the City Council will do the right thing and repeal this unlawful ordinance, allowing Mr. Tumey to carry on with his planned vigil.”
News Release
For Immediate Release: 9.26.25
Contact: Natalie Konstans, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Tennessee AG Joins First Liberty’s Challenge to City Ordinance that Bans Charlie Kirk Prayer Vigil on Downtown Green
AG Skrmetti informs Mayor that Morristown ordinance prohibiting use of downtown green for religious purposes also violates the state’s public accommodations law.
Morristown, TN—Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti sent a letter to the City of Morristown, TN criticizing local ordinance §9-204 that prevents Brad Tumey, a nearby resident, from holding a prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk on the downtown green space. First Liberty Institute represents Mr. Tumey.
AG Skrmetti’s letter can be read here.
Nate Kellum, Senior Counsel at First Liberty Institute said, “We appreciate Attorney General Skrmetti’s support for religious freedom. As he observes in his letter, Morristown’s ban on religious activity in a public sphere violates the state’s public accommodation law in addition to the First Amendment. We hope that the city will finally see the light and let Mr. Tumey hold a prayer vigil in the downtown space.”
The Tennessee AG warns, “Tennessee law prohibits denying a person the full and equal enjoyment of a public accommodation on the grounds of religion. Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-501…. Should Morristown enforce Section 9-204 as written, the City would be treating activities differently on the basis of religion and would therefore be in violation of Tennessee’s Human Rights Act…”
Brad Tumey wanted to hold a candlelight vigil on the City of Morristown’s downtown green space following the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk in September 2025. Citing the local ordinance, the City denied his request. Though Morristown allows a wide variety of activities on the downtown green, like family reunions, car shows, dances, and concerts, they flatly prohibit any activity that is religious in nature. In response to this violation of the First Amendment, First Liberty Institute sent a demand letter to city officials. The city has thus far refused to reverse its decision, and this action prevented Mr. Tumey from having a prayer vigil in September. Even so, Mr. Tumey is hopeful the City will reconsider its stance for future events.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact Natalie Konstans at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.