Pastor Slams Police Raid on Church, Says Services Expose “Unnecessary” Covid Lockdown Measures
”If you are waiting for the government to hand you back your civil liberties, it’s just not going to happen.”
The pastor of the Canadian church that was raided by police for defying Covid restrictions says his actions have exposed the government’s lockdown measures as “unnecessary” and even “harmful.”
Pastor James Coates of Gracelife Church in Alberta told Rebel News’ Sheila Gunn Reid his congregation hasn’t had a single Covid case or breakout despite their non-compliance with COVID rules.
“The government is embarrassed at this point in time,” said Coates. “We are a black eye on our government because we continue to meet, we’ve met for 37 Sundays in a row without a single Covid case, let alone a breakout.”
“We are exposing the reality that these lockdown measures are not just unjust, they’re harmful and unnecessary. I think the closing of our facility is necessary in order to prevent any further embarrassment to Alberta health services as well as to Jason Kenney [Premier of Alberta].”
On Wednesday, Coates’ church was seized by Alberta Health Services in a dawn raid, and to this day is surrounded by chain link fencing and has a police checkpoint to stop people from entering the property.
Due to the perimeter barriers, the church is currently surrounded by supporters and Coates has told Rebel News that neither he nor his congregation will be deterred from the gathering.
“…I would just say to the people of Alberta: the only way you’re going to get your province back is if you take it back,” said Coates. “It is time now, not in any violent manner, to peacefully return to your life. We just need to live our lives and do so peacefully and return to life as usual, and this ‘pandemic’ goes away.”
“We are ultimately in control, but if you are waiting for the government to hand you back your civil liberties, it’s just not going to happen.”
Coates’ full interview can be found on Rebel News.