Update to the Santaria San Antonio Case

The accused from the arrests made in San Antonio, Tx in mid-march have set a court date! They will appear in court on April 9th at 9am. Unfortunately, I may not be able to make it myself, but any of those who wish to attend, here is the address:

Cadena Reeves Justice Center
300 Dolorosa, 2nd Floor
San Antonio, TX 78205

They ask that you wear all white, as well any of your religious emblems to the court room to show your support in solidarity. Please do not make noise or be disruptive, as this CAN hurt them. They already have enough to face.

They will also be holding a public prayer to Obatala on Sunday. If you wish to join in, jump down to the group link and ask to join. You can also offer your support from far away by burning a white or green candle for legal aid and justice.

According to an article written on the 23rd,  here from my SA, even the animal protecton agencies have stepped up to say this is not a matter of animal cruelty. People all over Texas often kill chickens and goats to eat. My husband and myself have killed a lamb and several goats over the years for his practice and I, personally, have used some of the meat as offering to my own gods.

So what is the problem?

The issue that we're seeing is a straight up prejudice against the Pagan religion. This isn't anything new either, given the countless cases that have gone up against and won in the supreme court. The most recent one, in 1993, was even sited in the above article, where it was already stated that they cannot be arrested for a religious act and that it IS protected under both the first amendment and the right to religious freedom. This is bold discrimination. However, without proper legal representation they cannot win. The Olasha United has set up a legal aid donation center where you can support them as best as you can.

You may be against this, personally, but this is a fight for all pagans and the right to respect.

Link to the Olosha's Group
To donate and read more


© 2016, Copyright The Dame and The Devil Business Blog - Writer The Dame

Pagans in the News - San Antonio, Texas

According to sources, a household in San Antonio have been placed under arrest for animal sacrifice. A neighbor had called the police claiming that there were 12 animals in the home, chickens, goats, and others, that were doing to be sacrificed for a ritual. They were charged with animal cruelty, but most likely due to the ignorance of those outside of the faith.

In Texas and many southern States, practices such as Palo and Santo are prevalent and they involve animal ritualistic sacrifice. Texas law protects this practice using laws that state animal sacrifice is within the legal confines of animal ownership and killing them is no different than the other practices you see within Judaism and Islam.

Various other Supreme Court rulings have been in favor of the practice so long as it's proven to be a humane process and offering to the orishas. In Florida, you'll read about how they ruled a ban on such is actually AGAINST the religious freedoms of Afro-Cuban followers. In other cases, [such as this one in Virginia, they have managed to successfully deter sentencing. Texas is certainly not new to police and nonpractioners constant demonization of this practice. Even Santaria in Dallas has seen it's right be tested and even the drumming and singing have been complained about constantly.

With any luck to those in San Antonio, they will also win their case and the right to practice as set by their ancestors. The first case to fight for their right was in Florida against an entire house. Thankfully, the courts file in favor of the Constitution, even against their own personal beliefs. We are no longer in the dark ages and this no longer a witch hunt! Will you stand beside your pagan brothers and sisters? The only way forward with these new laws established by a trump era is hand in hand.



References
https://www.animallaw.info/article/legal-aspects-animal-sacrifice-within-context-afro-caribbean-religions

Florida Case: https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/12/us/supreme-court-animal-sacrifice-court-citing-religious-freedom-voids-ban-animal.html

Virginia Case:
http://www.animals24-7.org/2016/08/23/first-conviction-of-animal-sacrifice-practitioner-in-11-years

Dallas Case:
http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/a-court-case-forced-a-santeria-priest-to-reveal-some-of-his-religions-secrets-its-ritual-of-animal-sacrifice-he-revealed-on-his-own-6406316

Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Lukumi_Babalu_Aye_v._City_of_Hialeah

 © 2016, Copyright The Dame and The Devil Business Blog - Writer The Dame, the above image is owned by the writer