Legal Victory: FFLC Saves Firefighter’s Job

18 year-old Andrew Woodward dreamed of being a firefighter/EMT since he was four years old. So when he finally got his chance by being accepted into the Newport News Fire Academy, his lifelong goal was becoming a reality. But what happened next was far from what he could have imagined.  

Weeks into the program, Andrew was told that his religious objections to certain vaccines would be a deal breaker for the City. He was told by City officials that if he did not comply with their requirements that week, he would be fired on Friday and would never be eligible for rehire by the City. Andrew was suddenly faced with a difficult decision right as his career was beginning: compromise his religious convictions or give up his dream of becoming a firefighter in his hometown.

Thankfully, Andrew quickly got ahold of our attorneys at our Founding Freedoms Law Center who went to work right away by sending a Demand Letter to Newport News threatening legal action if it failed to accommodate his faith. As a result, the City backed away from its initial position.  The City continued Andrew’s employment while FFLC undertook a months‑long process of working with it, the community college where Andrew took employment-related courses, and the various hospitals where he was to complete his training, to secure the needed religious accommodations.

Our attorneys persuasively informed local government officials of the laws in place to protect individuals’ fundamental right to religious freedom. The fact that Andrew was their employee did not eliminate those protections. Thankfully, Andrew did not end up having to choose between staying true to his religious convictions and his job as a firefighter/EMT. But it did require real courage on his part to stand firm and allow our attorneys to back him up. We are inspired by his unusual resolve at such a young age, and we are glad to have gotten the opportunity to successfully back him up.

If you or someone you know is experiencing discrimination by the government or a private employer because of religious beliefs, don’t hesitate to reach out to our legal team at Founding Freedoms law Center today at www.foundingfreedomslaw.org.