The Supreme Court should fix this ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌



Case Updates



[link removed]





[link removed]



Help ensure government officials are held accountable when they violate your freedoms!

[link removed]





Dear John,

Chike Uzuegbunam did everything the officials at Georgia Gwinnet College told him to do.

He moved where he was told to move. He applied for the permissions he was told to get.

And still—he was silenced.

All Chike wanted to do was share his faith.

Chike grew up in a Christian family, but it was in college that God personally touched Chike’s heart. Through participation in a men’s bible study, Chike began to more fully understand what God had done for him.

Suddenly, Chike realized the personal nature of the Gospel—that Jesus had died for him and each and every one of us. It was the best news Chike had ever heard—and he wanted to share it with anyone who would listen.

But college officials wouldn’t allow it.

First, they stopped Chike from peacefully sharing his faith with interested students in a public walkway on campus. They told him to get advance permission and reserve a time to speak in one of two tiny speech zones on campus—zones that made up far less than 1% of the campus and were open less than 10% of the week.

Chike did what they asked.

But when Chike went to the designated zone during his reserved time, two campus police officers ordered him to stop sharing his faith. They even threatened Chike with disciplinary action if he did not remain silent!

John, when I first heard Chike’s story, I was struck by this young man’s courage to share his faith.

If you follow the news, you know how hostile college campuses can be toward students of faith. And it didn’t matter that Chike was simply exercising his free speech—just as any other student or faculty member is free to do on a daily basis.

Chike was singled out. He was silenced repeatedly. And threatened.

This is unacceptable.

Government officials—such as college administrators and campus police—have no business silencing a student’s speech. College campuses are free speech zones.

So with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom, Chike decided to take a stand.

Now, because of God’s blessing and the faithful prayers and support of people like you, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Chike’s case in early 2021. And I have the honor of arguing on his behalf.

Together, we have the opportunity to secure justice for this young man—and for anyone who’s constitutional freedoms have been violated. Will you help?


Your tax-deductible gift is needed today to help fund this critical effort to secure justice for Chike. Government officials must be held accountable when they violate your freedoms!

[link removed]


DONATE

[link removed]



The government is supposed to protect freedom, not take it away

When we filed Chike’s lawsuit, the college went into damage control mode.

First, officials argued that the First Amendment did not protect a student like Chike peacefully sharing his religious beliefs. Then, the college changed its speech policies in an attempt to avoid any penalty for its actions.

Sadly, the college’s strategy persuaded the lower court, which wrongly dismissed Chike’s case and failed to hold the college accountable for censoring him. That is not how the law is supposed to work.

While the policy changes were important, the fact remains that college officials violated Chike’s rights. But instead of acknowledging their wrongdoing, they tried to walk away from the lawsuit as if nothing ever happened.

It’s time for the U.S. Supreme Court to make things right and deliver justice for Chike and others like him.

Our constitutional rights are valuable—priceless, in fact. And when government officials violate those freedoms—freedom of speech and religion—they should be held responsible.

That’s what our court system is for.

But so far, the courts have acted as if it doesn’t matter how Chike was treated. It doesn’t matter that he was censored and threatened.

The courts have declined to hold these college officials accountable. If this continues, there’s nothing to stop officials from violating another student’s rights in the future.

And this legal principle doesn’t just apply to a student’s right to free speech—it applies to the constitutional rights of all Americans.

That’s why Chike’s case is so important, John.

Please take your stand for freedom today and help ensure that government officials are held accountable when they violate your rights!

[link removed]



Together we can fight—and WIN—for freedom!

Chike may have graduated, but his stand for freedom and justice could affect all of us.

Consider that last year, ADF received more than 4,000 legal requests.

Many of these calls come from people of faith like Chike who are being punished for living out and expressing their deeply held beliefs. They are small business owners, church members, and students—everyday people like you who simply want to honor God with their life and work.

These people desperately need help to defend their First Amendment freedoms. And because ADF doesn’t charge clients for the legal defense we provide, their fight for freedom isn’t possible without you, John.

We cannot back down when our most cherished liberties are threatened. We must stand for freedom—all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. And ADF is committed to defending courageous individuals like Chike, churches, and other organizations that are willing to take that stand.

That’s why your tax-deductible gift today is so critical.

[link removed]

God continues to bless ADF with opportunities to fight and win for freedom at the U.S. Supreme Court, and you are a key part of that, John.

Because of the prayers and faithful support of people like you, ADF has become one of the most successful U.S. Supreme Court advocates, having won 11 cases at the high court since 2011.

Each of these victories plays a part in ensuring our constitutional freedoms are protected today—and for your children and grandchildren.

I know I don’t have to tell you how precious our freedoms are, John. Our liberties are God-given. Men and women have died to protect them. And now we must do our part.

God has equipped people like you to provide the resources needed to respond to the growing threats to religious freedom and free speech in our country.

And people like Chike are counting on you to make their stand for freedom possible.

Government officials must be held accountable for trampling someone’s constitutional rights. Whether it’s Chike’s rights, your rights, or anyone else’s. Freedom must be protected.

We are so thankful for the work that God has already done through Chike and his willingness to be bold for Christ. With your prayers and support, we can continue to stand with him and secure justice at the U.S. Supreme Court.

If you believe that courts should hold government officials accountable when they violate your freedoms, please make your tax-deductible gift now—for Chike—and for us all.

[link removed]

Thank you for giving generously.


DONATE NOW

[link removed]





Warmly,

Kristen K. Waggoner

General Counsel










DONATE

[link removed]

© 2020 Alliance Defending Freedom

15100 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

All donations are secure, private, and tax-deductible. Member ECFA.


Don’t want to receive the Case Updates emails anymore?

Click here to manage your email preferences.

[link removed]

Privacy policy

[link removed]

| View this email online

[link removed]