US Attorney General won't rule out legal action against states amid lockdown protests

Amid scattered protests around United States against social distancing measures, Attorney General William Barr said that he won’t rule out legal action against states if such orders infringe civil liberties. Goverrs across US have issued stay-at-home orders putting a ban on social garings and shutting down businesses and schools to contain spread of coronavirus.

During a radio interview, Barr said he was more concerned about sweeping orders which call for closing down businesses regardless of capacity of business to operate safely. US Attorney General added that y are looking carefully at rules brought in by states and will pressurise goverrs to roll back or readjust such orders if y find it too harsh.

Read: US State Of Missouri Sues China Over Its Handling Of Coronavirus Outbreak

69-year-old lawyer said that if goverrs remain defiant and people bring lawsuits against m, n Justice Department will file statements of interest and side with plaintiffs. Barr’s comment comes days after Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in support of Mississippi Church that had sued city of Greenville for infringing religious freedom using stay-at-home order.

Read: Georgia Businesses Hesitant To Embrace Kemp's Call To Reopen

Religious freedom

Barr had issued a statement saying City appears to have singled out churches as only essential service that may t operate despite following all CDC and state recommendations regarding social distancing. He said that government may t impose special restrictions on religious activity that do t also apply to a similar nreligious activity.

“ United States Department of Justice will continue to ensure that religious freedom remains protected if any state or local government, in ir response to COVID-19, singles out, targets, or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions,” Barr concluded.

While some state goverrs have teamed up to restore ecomy by gradually reopening businesses in region, some are taking a more cautious approach. United States has reported over 800,000 coronavirus cases and more than 45,000 deaths with New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts being worst-hit.

Read: Take A Look At Traffic As Coronavirus-origin Wuhan Opens Up Its Transport Facilities

Read: Trump Says He'll Help New York's Cuomo Boost Virus Testing

(Im Credit: AP)