The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday filed a lawsuit claiming authorities in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., have supported a campaign of intimidation against the unfaithful, denying them housing and municipal services and allowing members of the dominant religious sect to destroy their crops and property.
Most residents of the towns are members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, run by jailed leader Warren Jeffs.
According to the lawsuit, city leaders and law enforcement in the two towns have for decades served at Jeffs' pleasure.
In one case of law enforcement misconduct, according to the suit, officers rounded up all dogs and shot them in a "slaughter pit" outside town on specific orders from Jeffs.
Attorneys representing the towns say there's no evidence supporting the claims.
No comments:
Post a Comment