Jacob Kersey

It is a blatant violation of state and federal civil rights laws to discriminate against someone for expressing their religious beliefs.

But that’s what officials in Port Wentworth, Georgia did when they forced First Liberty Institute’s client Jacob Kersey out of his job as a police officer.

Jacob had been with the department since May 2022. At an early age, Jacob was inspired by the exceptional police officers who encouraged him throughout his parents’ custody battle. They brought order and peace to a difficult situation. He grew passionate about giving back to his community and felt he was called by God to serve in law enforcement. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of the officers who had invested in his life at a young age.

In his time as a police officer, Jacob had an exemplary record. He was professional and had great relationships with his co-workers. The department’s leadership stated that “they brag on [Jacob] all the time.”

But that changed in January 2023 after on his personal Facebook page he stated his biblical belief that God designed marriage between a man and a woman to reflect Christ and the Church.  The next day, two supervisors told him to take down the post or the department may terminate his employment. When Jacob refused to abandon his religious beliefs, he was ordered to meet with the Department’s leadership. He was told by one of his superiors that his free speech was “limited due to his position as . . . a police officer.”  Jacob was also told “he could not post things like that” and that he would be placed on administrative leave while the city investigated him.

One week later, the department’s leadership told him if he continued to share his interpretation or opinion on biblical scripture and it was deemed offensive, he could no longer work as a police officer for the department. The leadership cited “separation of church and state” as the reason.

Jacob then received a “Letter of Notification” explaining that there was not sufficient evidence to terminate him, but warning him that he could be terminated for any post on any of his private social media accounts or any other statement or action that could be perceived as offensive.

Forced to choose between his private religious speech and the job he loved, Jacob had no choice but to resign.

In February 2023, First Liberty sent a letter to Port Wentworth officials, explaining how city officials blatantly discriminated against Jacob Kersey and urging officials to create policies that protect the First Amendment rights of city employees.

“It is a blatant violation of state and federal civil rights laws to discriminate against someone for expressing their religious beliefs,” said Stephanie Taub, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “The city owes Jacob a public apology.  And it needs to adopt policies that recognize the free speech and free exercise rights of its employees.  Forcing Jacob to choose to either censor his private religious speech or remain employed as a police officer is simply unconstitutional.”