The U.S. Navy has paid a settlement to a lawsuit alleging that American troops were forced to take untested COVID-19 vaccines and has pledged to correct the personnel files of discharged conscientious objectors, Military.com reported July 25.
From now on, U.S. Navy sailors who refuse vaccination for religious reasons will be protected from discrimination in promotions. Previously, they were subject to suspension and dismissal.
The legal standoff began after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued an executive order on August 24, 2021, requiring all military personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In response, about 17,000 members of all branches of the military refused to get vaccinated, and more than 8,400 of them were discharged, including 3,717 Marines, 2,041 Navy sailors, 1,841 Army soldiers, and 834 Air Force and Space Force personnel.
By March 2022, when the U.S. Navy stopped firing sailors for refusing to get vaccinated, there had already been 3,320 requests for religious exemptions from active-duty sailors and 864 from Navy reservists. None of the requests were approved.
A group of SEALs dared to defend their rights in court, and in November 2021 the case “US SEALs 1-26 v. Biden” was opened. It subsequently took shape in a class action lawsuit representing the interests of at least 3,000 US Navy personnel who filed petitions to be granted an exemption from forced vaccination on religious grounds.
According to the plaintiffs’ lawyers, “The parties have reached a settlement agreement on behalf of all members of the group”which involves the Navy paying $1.5 million to the plaintiffs’ attorneys. The attorneys previously received $1.8 million in a separate settlement of a lawsuit against the Defense Department. That’s all. The plaintiffs will not receive any personal compensation, and the settlement itself does not constitute an admission of guilt or wrongdoing by either party.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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