Pastor's Wife Fined for Praying Too Loud on City Sidewalk
The wife of a Lisbon, North Dakota, pastor who immigrated with her family to the United States from Liberia to find a better life has alleged that her religious freedom is being violated after she was fined for praying too loud on city sidewalks.
Law enforcement in the small town has warned Martha Nagbe, wife of United Methodist Church pastor, Juwle Nagbe, that she needs stop praying in downtown Libson and area neighborhoods or pray more quietly.
Even after appearing in court twice and being fined $150 for making "unnecessary noise" she has refused, declaring that she will trust God for her right to pray openly in the streets, according to Valley News Live.
"In the United States it's one nation under God," Nagbe, who walks around with her Bible while singing in the streets, told Valley News. "I can't stop … I'm trusting God."
Lisbon Police Chief Jeanette Persons said Nagbe will keep getting ticketed, however, if she doesn't restrain her praying.
"I mean, we all need prayers and great she's out there praying for all of us, but it's just the volume of her voice," said the police chief.
Persons explained that the decision to clamp down on Nagbe has nothing to do with race, religion or freedom of speech, but highlighted that neighbors in the predominantly white town complained that they "have been woken up and she (Nagbe) is standing outside of their house shouting."
"It's not that she just walks by, but she will stand out there for a lengthy period of time," explained Persons.
While people have complained that Nagbe has publicly prayed at nights, Persons explained that she has only observed her praying in the daytime.
Nagbe's husband, however, feels like his wife is being unfairly targeted.
"For them to antagonize her, to make her look like a bad person, sometimes makes me angry," said Juwle Nagbe. "Somebody should give her the respect that she deserves."
