Faith leaders go on trial for protesting Missouri Senate for Medicaid expansion

JEFFERSON CITY • A jury trial begins this week for 23 clergy members who were arrested after protesting the Missouri Senate in 2014, when their chants and singing led lawmakers to suspend the Senate session.

The protesters were calling for Medicaid expansion, and they were arrested by Capitol police after refusing to leave the Senate gallery. They now face charges for obstructing government function and trespassing.

Typically, charges for these kind of political demonstrations are dropped or not pursued by prosecutors, making this trial unusual, something advocates who gathered at Cole County Circuit Court on Monday were quick to point out.

“The fact that for at least three days this week we are tying up taxpayer dollars in trying to crucify clergy, faith leaders, who dared to say anything, to sing and to pray, I am actually shocked that this day would come,” said the Rev. Cassandra Gould, executive director of Missouri Faith Voices.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/faith-leaders-go-on-trial-for-protesting-missouri-senate-for/article_b0f2d7e9-7e69-58d6-b2b5-f5195ecd7590.html