On October 27, 2021, the Pacific Justice Institute, headquartered in Sacramento, CA, announced an initiative to recruit local attorneys across the US, to become part of a unified legal defense effort against federal vaccine mandates for COVID-19 called “Operation Pushback.” The mission behind this operation is to represent Americans who the organization alleges have had their constitutional rights infringed upon by the recently announced COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Founded 1997, the non-profit 501(c)(3), donation-funded organization provides free legal support for clients to defend their cases regarding religious beliefs, parental rights, and other legal matters surrounding civil liberties, such as free speech.
According to their press release, “PJI is the only legal organization leading in the defense of individuals who have sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent them from complying with COVID-19 vaccine mandates.”
These mandates include those coming from the White House imposed on private businesses of 100+ employees, as well as those that are self-imposed by states or other entities to exclude students (who do not get vaccinated) from an in-person education, including charter and private schools.
California announced that it was the first state to adopt this policy. Governor Gavin Newsom announced his plan in October to require school students of all ages to be vaccinated, even before the vaccine was approved by the FDA for children as young as five. California is among only 6 states that do not allow religious exemption for any required vaccine for students.
“Operation Pushback” is gearing up to support relevant causes, especially those in which religious or medical exemptions are not considered. The operation will focus on defending wrongful termination against unvaccinated employees, and parental rights to decline their children from receiving the newly-developed, experimental vaccine.
PJI’s press release states that “attorneys who join ‘Operation Pushback’ will have the full support of PJI’s 19 offices throughout the country, and PJI will pay for their litigation expenses and applicable attorney’s fees.”
PJI has issued a PDF flyer to help guide readers to other free legal resources entailing how they can exercise their rights and protect their own best interests. The flyer also mentions other potential forced vaccination groups such as churches and military personnel.
President Brad Dacus, an attorney who served as a legislative assistant to the former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm and holds his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas, explains in an interview with Mike Huckabee, that the government is growing increasingly intolerant of religious people in America. In some instances, PJI has represented plaintiffs who are suing government agencies. However, PJI has also successfully provided legal counsel to city administrators as well. The city representatives of Gig Harbor, WA, were pressured to remove their customary nativity scene displayed among their holiday decorations at the protest of an atheist group, the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
Looking over the PJI’s website, the main page features a slideshow of several different plaintiff’s testimonials defended by PJI attorneys over time.
The non-profit also hosts town hall meetings to provide another source of support for those who are struggling with the ramifications of these mandates and other issues of legal concern.
Call to Action: What are your thoughts? Do COVID-19 vaccine mandates cross the boundary of what is acceptable or is the edict necessary for public health? Mandates regarding new biomedical research raise much controversy. TrialSite monitors the activity.