Supporters of suspended Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore called for his reinstatement today at a rally at the state judicial building in Montgomery.

Speakers led prayers and urged those at the rally to sign an online petition supporting Moore and calling the ethics charges filed by the Judicial Inquiry Commission a "politically-motivated travesty."

Speakers denounced same-sex marriage and President Obama's directive that public schools allow students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

Kayla Moore told the crowd that her husband, Chief Justice Moore, did not attend because he did not want the rally to be about him.

"It's about freedom," Kayla Moore said. "It's about religious freedom and our constitution."

Kayla Moore said her husband was being persecuted for standing up for traditional marriage.

"He's done nothing wrong," she said. "He's done nothing illegal. He's done nothing unethical."

On May 6, the Judicial Inquiry Commission charged Moore with violating canons of judicial ethics because of his Jan. 6 administrative order telling probate judges that a state Supreme Court decision from last year blocking same-sex marriage was still in effect.

Moore issued the order about six months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Moore was automatically suspended from the bench with pay when the Judicial Inquiry Commission filed the complaint.

Moore's attorney, Mat Staver, has said he will file a response to charges and that he expects the Alabama Court of the Judiciary to hold a hearing this summer.

Sen. Dick Brewbaker, R-Pike Road, was the only legislator to speak at today's event. Brewbaker said the Judicial Inquiry Commission's decision was an "outrageous abuse of process."

"This is all over an administrative order," Brewbaker said. "The check and balance in our system for an incorrect or controversial administrative order is for the other sitting justices just to strike it down, which they can do at will.

"The JIC was never set up to ride herd on every administrative decision made by the chief justice as the head administrator of the courts."

Rusty Johnson, pastor of the Lighthouse of Hope in Irvington, told the crowd the state and nation are battling demonic influences before leading the group in prayer.

"I ask you God to stand against this militant homosexual movement that's invading our land," Johnson prayed. "Stand against the demonic influences that have come not only to the state of Alabama but across the United States of America."

Dean Young, a longtime Moore ally and former congressional candidate, told the crowd they were standing at "ground zero in the cultural war."

"The entire world is watching us," Young said. "They were hoping that you guys wouldn't show up. But they're here, everybody."

State Auditor Jim Zeigler spoke briefly at the rally. Zeigler noted that the Alabama Court of the Judiciary removed Moore from office in 2003 after the judge refused to follow a federal judge's order to remove a Ten Commandments monument he had installed in the judicial building.

"This time maybe they will see the light or feel the heat and stop this nonsense," Zeigler said.

Updated at 8:57 p.m. to add comments from Rusty Johnson, Dick Brewbaker, Kayla Moore and Dean Young. Updated at 9:10 p.m. to add comment from Jim Zeigler.

