Staff Reports
In a stunning victory for free speech, a federal appeals court has exposed the hypocrisy of Washington, D.C. officials in selectively enforcing a statute to arrest pro-life activists while turning a blind eye to the actions of Black Lives Matter demonstrators. Finally, justice has prevailed!
A federal appeals court ruled that D.C., officials "selectively" enforced a statute to arrest pro-life activists but not BLM protesters. https://t.co/64diemtXPq
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) August 17, 2023
Last summer, wave after wave of Black Lives Matter activists flooded the streets of Washington, D.C. armed with paint and chalk, defacing public property left and right. Despite blatantly violating the District’s defacement ordinance, not a single one of these unruly individuals faced arrest. But heaven forbid a pro-life advocate scribbles “Black Pre-Born Lives Matter” on a public sidewalk outside a Planned Parenthood facility – they were quickly apprehended by the biased district police officers.
Thankfully, Judge Neomi Rao of the D.C. Circuit, along with two other judges, saw through the government’s duplicity. In a scathing opinion, this panel made it crystal clear that the government cannot cherry-pick which laws to enforce based on their own political preferences. What a concept! The First Amendment’s protections for free speech must be upheld, regardless of the content or viewpoint expressed.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) deserves a round of applause for championing the rights of pro-life organizations in this case. ADF Senior Counsel Erin Hawley, a true voice of reason, argued persuasively that Washington officials cannot suppress messages they happen to disagree with. It’s a matter of basic fairness and constitutional principles. Every American, regardless of their beliefs, should have the right to peacefully share their views without fear of government interference.
But let’s not forget the true heroes here – the members of the Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America. They stood up against the hypocrisy and injustice, fighting for their constitutionally protected freedom to express their pro-life stance. It’s a shame that Washington officials have attempted to silence them simply because their views differ. The First Amendment exists precisely to protect dissenting voices, not to stifle them.
President of the Frederick Douglass Foundation Virginia Chapter, J.R. Gurley, hit the nail on the head when he spoke out against the city’s discriminatory practices. It’s appalling that some groups are granted access to the public forum while others are shunned simply because officials disagree with their viewpoint. Thankfully, the D.C. Circuit recognizes the importance of allowing peaceful expression of pro-life messages, ensuring that unjust government punishment is not used to suppress dissenting opinions.
Let this ruling be a beacon of hope for all conservatives and pro-life activists. We can and must continue to fight for our rights, even in the face of bias and censorship. The First Amendment is not a mere suggestion, but a fundamental pillar of our democracy that should be respected by all. Kudos to the D.C. Circuit for upholding these principles and reminding D.C. officials that they are not above the law.
