Kelvin Cochran served with distinction as Fire Chief of the City of Atlanta for more than five years, prior to which he served as US Fire Administrator where he worked with FEMA and the US Department of Homeland Security.

In November of 2014 Fire Chief Cochran was suspended for 30 days by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed for expressing his views on sexual morality, including homosexuality, in a book he wrote on Christian faith and values. After returning from his suspension, and despite being exonerated by the City of Atlanta’s Investigative Report into the controversy, he was informed by the mayor that he would have to resign or else be terminated.

With the attacks on Christianity becoming increasingly strident and common in our society, Kelvin Cochran’s case serves as an alarming example of the new and unprecedented threats to religious liberty that we face. His life story, and the circumstances surrounding his dismissal, should be a matter of interest and concern to Christians and all other Americans who value religious freedom and our First Amendment rights.