Freedom Updates
Advocates in Action
PRESS RELEASE | CALVARY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY WINS MAJOR VICTORY: STATE WITHDRAWS ALL OSHA CITATIONS AFTER ILLEGAL WARRANT RAID ON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 2025
CONTACT: NICOLE VELASCO
MEDIA@FAITH-FREEDOM.COM
San Jose, CA – In a landmark victory for religious freedom and parental rights, Calvary Chapel of San Jose (CCSJ) and Calvary Christian Academy (CCA) have been cleared of every citation originally brought by the California Division of Occupational Safety & Health (Cal/OSHA). The final Order by the California Occupational Safety & Health Appeals Board (OSHAB) affirms:
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Every citation issued–totaling 15 items and originally carrying $67,330 in penalties–was withdrawn by the Division.
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Final penalties: $0.
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No finding of wrongdoing. The church and school admitted no fault whatsoever, and this resolution cannot be used against them in any future matter.
This victory comes after a protracted campaign of relentless government over-reach. In late 2020 and early 2021, Cal/OSHA leveraged a search warrant—based on what courts later called an affidavit “utterly devoid of detail”—to inspect the Academy after mask-related complaints. That warrant was challenged by the legal team at Advocates for Faith & Freedom, which exposed the agency’s failure to follow due-process, properly verify allegations, or respect constitutional protections.
“This is a complete victory, not only for Calvary Christian Academy, but for every church and Christian school in California,” said Joel Oster, Vice President and Chief of Trial Litigation for Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “The State tried to use OSHA as a weapon to intimidate a religious institution. They failed. And they were forced to walk away from their own claims.”
Attorney Nicolai Cocis added: “We commend the court for upholding the constitutional rights of Calvary Chapel San Jose and Calvary Christian Academy. This ruling underscores the importance of due process and the protection of religious freedoms against unwarranted governmental overreach.”
This outcome carries significant implications. Religious liberty is strengthened, demonstrating that faith-based institutions cannot be intimidated by bureaucratic pressure disguised as public-health enforcement. Parental rights are protected, as the case began with mask mandates being weaponized against children and churches, yet the resolution makes clear that government cannot trample constitutional protections under the guise of regulation. Finally, an important precedent is reinforced: government agencies must follow the law, adhere to due process, and cannot rely on thin affidavits, unchecked authority, or discriminatory targeting of religious communities.
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Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.
PRESS RELEASE | ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM AND ACLJ TAKE CALVARY CHAPEL SAN JOSE CASE TO U.S. SUPREME COURT; CHALLENGE $1.2 MILLION IN COVID FINES
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025
CONTACT: NICOLE VELASCO
MEDIA@FAITH-FREEDOM.COM
Murrieta, CA —Advocates for Faith & Freedom (AFF) has joined forces with the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ) to defend Calvary Chapel San Jose and Pastor Mike McClure in a landmark religious liberty case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The church faces more than $1.2 million in fines after continuing to worship during California’s COVID-19 restrictions.
In 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom and Santa Clara County imposed sweeping public-health orders that severely restricted religious gatherings, while granting broad exemptions for secular activities, including construction sites, restaurants, athletic programs, personal-care services, and government operations.
Calvary Chapel continued worship services and declined to enforce mask mandates that violated its sincerely held religious convictions. The county responded with rapidly escalating fines, doubling daily up to $5,000 per day, and demanded church leaders sign sworn statements promising compliance with orders later ruled unconstitutional.
“Government officials cannot weaponize emergencies to suspend constitutional rights,” said Erin Mersino, Vice President & Chief of Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation for AFF. “This case represents one of the most aggressive attacks on church autonomy and religious liberty in recent history. The Constitution does not evaporate in a crisis.”
The Supreme Court has repeatedly held, including in Tandon v. Newsom, that religious gatherings cannot be treated worse than comparable secular activities. The government’s selective exemptions for favored industries while crushing churches with fines violates this standard.
“Churches were punished while secular entities operated freely,” said Joel Oster, Vice President and Chief of Trial Litigation for AFF. “If government can impose crushing penalties until churches surrender constitutional freedoms, then those freedoms are meaningless.”
Though COVID restrictions have ended, the legal precedent would allow similar government overreach in future emergencies. Advocates for Faith & Freedom and ACLJ will file their petition for certiorari in the coming weeks.
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Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.
PRESS RELEASE | CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AIDE WINS SETTLEMENT AFTER BEING PUNISHED FOR TRUMP BACKPACK AND FAITH-BASED EXPRESSION
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025
CONTACT: NICOLE VELASCO
MEDIA@FAITH-FREEDOM.COM
Murrieta, CA —Advocates for Faith & Freedom announced today a decisive settlement victory on behalf of Alyssa Esquivel, a Christian American Sign Language aide who was unlawfully targeted, silenced, and terminated by the San Gabriel Unified School District after colleagues and administrators objected to her faith and political expression.
As part of the settlement, the District agreed to compensate Esquivel monetary damages, attorneys’ fees, and to completely clear Esquivel’s termination records. Though she has already moved on to a better position, this resolution is a full vindication of her name.
Esquivel was targeted after coworkers mocked her Christian faith and demanded she hide her Trump-themed backpack and water bottle—going so far as to flip over a desk in outrage. Instead of disciplining the disruptive staff, school officials retaliated against Esquivel. She was escorted off campus by police and suspended without pay and eventually terminated, despite an unblemished record of service to deaf students who depended on her expertise.
Her lawsuit, filed by Advocates for Faith & Freedom, exposed the District’s violation of the First Amendment, Title VII, and California law, detailing how Esquivel was punished simply for being a Christian and expressing her beliefs. The settlement forces the District to compensate Esquivel and wipe away all termination records, ensuring her professional reputation remains intact.
“This is more than a legal win, it’s a cultural stand,” said Julianne Fleischer, Senior Counsel for Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “Public schools cannot bully employees into silence because they dare to express their faith or conservative values. Alyssa’s victory affirms that faith and free speech still have a place in the public square.”
Esquivel also emphasized: “First and foremost, I give all honor and glory to God. I am grateful to Advocates for Faith & Freedom for being a voice for justice. I stood firm because my faith and convictions are worth more than a paycheck, and I hope my case inspires others facing similar violations of their rights to take a bold stand.”
Advocates for Faith & Freedom emphasized that this case is part of a broader battle to defend free speech, religious liberty, and the right of Americans to live out their convictions without government retaliation.
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Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.