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Hi John,
“A boost for free speech and parental rights.”
That’s what the Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel had to say last week about our recent victory in the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Moms for Liberty of Brevard County—our clients in the case and the chapter that kicked off the entire “Moms Movement”—finally got the justice they deserved after nearly three years in court.
If you don’t know the story, the Moms were repeatedly interrupted, silenced, and some were even removed when attempting to voice their concerns about school policies, curricula, or leadership at their local school board meeting.
See for yourself—in one notable incident, the board interrupted a parent and prevented her from reading an excerpt from a book… one available in an elementary school library… ironically deeming the language too “obscene” to be read aloud!
Writing for the majority, Judge Grant emphasized: “The government has relatively broad power to restrict speech in limited public forums—but that power is not unlimited. Speech restrictions must still be reasonable, viewpoint-neutral, and clear enough to give speakers notice of what speech is permissible. The Board’s policies for public participation at Board meetings did not live up to those standards.”
We at the Institute for Free Speech wholeheartedly agree.
This ruling is a big deal. A circuit court’s precedent has the same impact on federal judges in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia (states covered by the 11th Circuit) that a Supreme Court precedent would have nationally. So, this precedent improves speech rights for nearly 40 million Americans! And it is persuasive authority in every state in the nation—we’ve already cited it in another case.
In Liberty,
David
P.S. – Happy “Free Speech Week.” I encourage you to participate! Consider taking time this week to discuss the importance of our First Amendment freedoms of speech and press with friends and family. Or support an organization that promotes free speech… hint, hint.
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