A lawsuit was filed yesterday in a Virginia federal district court alleging that the Town of Richlands, Virginia violated plaintiff's rights in refusing to amend its zoning ordinance to allow him to operate a Tarot reading business in the town. The complaint (
full text) in
Mullins v. Town of Richlands, Virginia, (WD VA, filed 4/4/2019) alleges in part:
4.... Town of Richlands’ officials have used the Town’s licensing and zoning scheme to prohibit Mr. Mullins from reading Tarot as part of his business because of their disapproval of his religious views and practices.
5. Defendants’ effective prohibition on Tarot reading as part of Mr. Mullins’ business constitutes viewpoint discrimination and is an unconstitutional prior restraint.... Defendants further violate Mr. Mullins right to free exercise of religion .... Finally, Defendant Town of Richlands’ licensing and zoning scheme imposes a substantial burden on Mr. Mullins’ religious exercise in violation of RLUIPA and the Virginia Religious Freedom Act.
The complaint describes the hearing on plaintiff's zoning application:
Several local residents admonished the Town Council against amending the zoning ordinance by citing biblical scripture and warning of dire spiritual consequences for the Town if it allowed fortune telling in Richlands.
WSLS News reports on the lawsuit.
