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Preacher says his rights were violated at Alabama A&M

By Elizabeth Gentle - bio | email
Posted by Dana Franks - email

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) - A preacher said he was kicked off a college campus and arrested for ministering to students, and said that infringes on his constitutional right.

Jesse Morrell has been a minister for five years. He said he's preached with no trouble to students at other nearby colleges.

But on Wednesday, Morrell visited Alabama A&M University, where he said it took less than 10 minutes for police to arrest him. He caught it on video.

On Wednesday, Morrell showed up at the university to preach in a public area to a group of students.

"One of them called the police, and as soon as they arrived within one minute they had arrested me," Morrell said.

Morrell said campus police told him that AAMU is a private university and that he needed to leave.

"I told them I would be willing to leave, I just had a few questions," Morrell said. "I turned on my video camera and asked them if it was a private university. As soon as I did that, they arrested me and put me in handcuffs."

Morrell posted his arrest on YouTube, claiming he was denied his right to exercise free speech.

Duanne Seely with Women of Influence saw Morrell's story online.

"I was shocked that in Alabama freedom of speech would be attacked that way," Seely said. "It's a public school, it's sharing your opinion. The basic principle in society is freedom of speech."

Morrell said he's taken legal action against schools in the past that refused to allow him to share his Bible beliefs.

"I've had three lawsuits so far; one is pending and two more settled out of court," he said. "When you hit them in the wallet, they are willing to work with you."

Morrell said he's giving Alabama A&M a second chance before he files suit against them. When WAFF 48 News asked if he had permission from the college to be on grounds, he said he stopped by the guard booth and requested a visitor pass. But all he had to show was a parking slip.

Charges were dropped against Morrell. However, he was given a tresspass warning.

WAFF 48 News contacted AAMU's Office of Public Relations and campus police for a statement. They would not comment on Morrell's accusations but did not deny the incident happened.

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