Artur Pawlowski, a Polish-Canadian pastor from Alberta, Canada who was arrested last weekend for allegedly organizing a church service that ignored COVID social distancing rules and mask mandates, warned the U.S. to watch out after what happened to him.
In an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham that aired on Friday, Pawlowski said that Canada "has no rights whatsoever."
"What we have right now is some kind of a hybrid between fascism and communism medical tyranny," he told Ingraham.
Prior to his arrest, according to Calgary police, Alberta Health Services had received a "Court of Queen's Bench Order that applies to gatherings including protests, demonstrations and rallies. This order imposes new restrictions on organizers of protests and demonstrations requiring compliance with public health orders including masking, physical distancing and attendance limits."
"I spent three days in jail for my crime of opening the church in a free and democratic society," Pawlowski said.
Pawlowski compared Canada to the communist states he escaped from: "I came to Canada only because Canada was offering me freedom, and here we are again, a repetition of history. And I decided I'm going to stand up and fight."
His arrest last weekend was not Pawlowski's first encounter with Canadian law enforcement on the matter. A video in April showed Pawlowski condemning local police as they demanded parishioners leave Passover celebrations over their rebuke of COVID-19 regulations.
"I don't care what you have to say, out!" Pawlowski can be heard saying in the clip. "Out of this property, you Nazis. Out! Gestapo is not allowed here. Do not come back, you Nazi psychopaths. Unbelievable sick, evil people. Intimidating people in the church during the Passover. You Gestapo Nazi communist fascists!"
And again, in a video captured of his arrest last weekend, Pawlowski can be heard shouting, "You Gestapo psychopaths!" at the police as they held him on his knees and dragged him to the police car.
Law enforcement released a statement on May 8 reiterating their support for "faith-based gatherings" across the country, as well as the right to protest. "However, as we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic, we all must comply with public health orders in order to ensure everyone's safety and well-being," Calgary Police noted.
Ingraham asked for Pawlowski's reaction to the police statement, to which he responded: "It's a sham."
Pawlowski condemned Canada's fear of people "bringing forth the truth," and warned that the U.S. government would start "deplatforming Christians" in America next.
"My message to you is, watch what's happening here because it's coming your way unless you rise up and stand up and fight."
Newsweek reached out to Pawlowski's church, the Cave of Adullam, for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Emma Mayer is a Newsweek Culture Writer based in Wyoming. Her focus is reporting on celebrities, books, movies, and music. ... Read more
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