On Monday, US Attorney General William Barr warned states and local governors not to violate American civil liberties, specifically against religious discrimination, as the country continues to struggle with the ongoing health and economic crisis.

In a recently released memorandum, which was addressed to all US attorneys, Barr reminded prosecutors to remain vigilant, especially in observing if there is a violation of the constitution. Barr challenged US attorneys by stating that, “I am directing each of our United States Attorneys to also be on the lookout for state and local directives that could be violating the constitutional rights and civil liberties of individual citizens.”

Barr also reminded attorneys about the country’s current state, believing that despite the ongoing pandemic, it still serves as no excuse to violate civil rights. The attorney general explained that even in times of emergency, wherein some temporary restrictions are placed on the people’s rights, the First Amendment, as well as the federal statutory law, guaranteed all American citizens to remain free from all forms of religious discrimination.

Moreover, Barr reminded attorney generals on people’s freedom of speech, as well as their right to undue interference with the national economy. He believed that if local officials have crossed the line to what was considered as the appropriate exercise of authority, he will make them accountable by allowing the justice system to address it accordingly in the federal courts.

In his statement, Barr announced that he had directed Eric Dreiband, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, and Matthew Schneider, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, to lead and monitor the local government if there are any violations, and to be able to take actions. Finally, the attorney general reminded government officials that “Constitution is not suspended in times of crisis. We must, therefore, be vigilant to ensure its protections are preserved, at the same time that the public is protected.”

The statement came as a response to increasing discrimination against religious institutions, specifically during Easter. For example, Mayor Errick Simmons, a Democrat from Greenville, Mississippi, banned local religious organizations from holding drive-thru services.

In addition, congregants of the Temple Baptist Church were also issued a $500 fine after police officers caught them sitting in parked cars for night service, even if it had been clear that the churchgoers were abiding by the administration’s social distancing guidelines. Similarly, Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear, who is also a Democrat, directed police officers to take down license plates from members of the Maryville Baptist Church who had attended the drive-thru services and even subjected them to a 14-day quarantine. In a previous statement, Barr said that despite the ongoing global health crisis, religious freedom remains “indispensable to sustaining a free system of government.”