Brad Avakian, Oregon Labor CommissionerThe state of Oregon is doubling down on two Christian bakers fined for refusing to bake a cake for a lesbian wedding and is demanding that they pay $135,000 in damages to the couple by Monday or risk having a lien placed on their home.
FoxNews.com is reporting on the continued persecution of Aaron and Melissa Klein, the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa. The couple was punished by the state’s Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI) for discriminating against the lesbians with a $135,000 fine and a gag order that prohibits them from speaking publicly about their refusal to participate in same-sex weddings.
As if this isn’t bad enough, now they’re being told that they only have until Monday, July 13, to pay the damages or the state may place a lien on their home. The couple, who have five children, may soon be out on the street.
“This is intimidation and bullying - that’s exactly what it is,” Klein told Fox’s Todd Starnes in a telephone interview. “They are trying to strong-arm me into handing over $135,000 to the two girls and if I win on appeal - they will never pay me back.”
According to a BOLI spokesman, the couple’s attorney received a standard notice in the mail informing them that the damages had to be paid by Monday or the case would be turned over to the Department of Revenue which can place a lien on their property.
The spokesman claims the couple can make payment arrangements or even ask for a stay of enforcement while they pursue their appeal.
It all sounds very reasonable, “but there’s a catch”, Starnes warns.
“The person who will determine whether or not to stay the order — is BOLI Commissioner Brad Avakian — a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA movement.”
Avakian is the very man who levied the fine and issued the gag order in the first place!
“The judge, jury and executioner are all in one place,” said Anna Harmon, the Kleins' attorney. “He is intent on using his office to root out thought and speech with which he personally disagrees.”
Harmon says the Kleins intend to appeal and believes the letter they just received, although standard procedure, shows the state has no intention of backing down.
“They don’t think they did anything wrong here,” she told Starnes.
Christians across the nation vehemently disagree and are outraged by the harsh treatment of the Kleins.
“This guy would make Mussolini proud,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. “This is a wannabe dictator. . . .Not only do they want to drive them out of business, but they want to make them homeless.”
One thing’s for certain – the Kleins are even more determined to fight than ever before.
“I will fight them with every last breath I have,” Aaron Klein told Starnes.
“We are so going to fight this,” Melissa Klein added. “It’s making us stronger and emboldening us to stand up to this. Aaron and I are fighting for every American out there - for their freedom. We are not backing down at all.”
She added: “He definitely messed with the wrong Christians.”
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