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Protect Fayetteville To Move Forward With Lawsuit Against Civil Rights Ordinance

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) — Opponents of the civil rights ordinance that passed in Fayetteville Tuesday (Sept. 8) said they are planning to move forward with a ...

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) -- Opponents of the civil rights ordinance that passed in Fayetteville Tuesday (Sept. 8) said they are planning to move forward with a lawsuit against the new measure, which goes into effect 60 days after the special election.

The lawsuit filed by Protect Fayetteville the day before the start of early voting on Sept. 1 claims the City Council vote to hold a special election on Ordinance 5781 was illegal. The civil rights ordinance extends anti-discrimination protections to LGBT residents and visitors in matters of employment, housing and public services.

Duncan and Wendy Campbell of Protect Fayetteville said they believe the lawsuit will block the ordinance from becoming law.

"We will do everything we can to stop this law from going into effect,” Duncan Campbell said. “We believe it will violate the religious freedom of people in Fayetteville.”

The couple argues Ordinance 5781 infringes on religious freedoms by forcing people to be involved in situations that violate their religious beliefs.

If the lawsuit does not stop the ordinance from going into effect, the Campbells believe the Intrastate Commerce Act, which was passed this legislative session in Little Rock, will make the ordinance invalid. The law prohibits cities and counties from passing civil rights ordinances that expand protections beyond those already protected by federal and state laws.

"We are going to fight this law as long as people are at jeopardy, as long as businesses are at risk," Wendy Campbell said.

Danielle Weatherby, with For Fayetteville, a group that campaigned for the ordinance, said she believes the ordinance is legal under state law and would easily be upheld in court.

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