In Duncanville, Texas, the city has filed a condemnation petition seeking to take land owned by the Canaan Baptist Church in order to build a new fire station. The property, which currently has no buildings on it, was acquired by the church in 2002 with plans to eventually build church buildings on it. In the meantime it is used for various outdoor church events by the 125-member, largely African-American church. On Wednesday the church filed a motion seeking dismissal of the city's eminent domain proceedings. The motion (full text) in City of Duncanville, Texas v. Canaan Baptist Church, (TX County Ct., filed 10/7/2020) contends that the condemnation proceedings violate the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the federal RLUIPA. First Liberty issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.
