Pacific Justice Institute:
Defending religious freedoms, parental rights, and other civil liberties.
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Pastor Yaghtin Heads to Trial After Denial of Motion to Dismiss
September 17, 2019
Friends,
I need to update you on our case involving Pastor Afshin Yaghtin who was arrested at the Drag Queen Story Hour event in Spokane, Washington. Unfortunately, the case against Pastor Yaghtin was not dismissed at the court hearing on August 29, 2019.
As you may recall, Pastor Yaghtin showed up at the Spokane Public Library on June 15, 2019, not to protest, but to observe the Drag Queen Story Hour event and pray for the parents and children who would be attending. As he arrived, the police had already begun separating the sheep from the goats. The "Pro-LGBTQ" group, as labeled by the officer in charge at the scene, was allowed to remain on the library side of the street, while protestors were forced to stay across the street. The officers determined Pastor Yaghtin’s beliefs by his association and support of the individuals calmly expressing their dissent to the event. Based on their determination of Pastor Yaghtin’s views, the police officers refused to allow him entry into the public library.
The judge in Spokane ruled against PJI’s Motion to Dismiss in Pastor Yaghtin’s case. The City is arguing that the Pastor’s views had nothing to do with him being denied entry into the public library during regular business hours. At the same time, the City is arguing that they were worried Pastor Yaghtin would disrupt and cause issues in the library. Misleading statements by the City created enough factual disputes for the case to proceed to trial.
We were hopeful the City of Spokane would rectify the injustice that occurred, but they continue to defend the unfortunate decision to arrest Pastor Yaghtin. This is precisely why we opened our office in Seattle. PJI is prepared to show that it was the preferential treatment given to the “Pro-LGBTQ” viewpoint which led to a stripping of Pastor Yaghtin’s freedom of speech right to hear a message.
Our full-time attorney, Jorge Ramos, in Seattle, Washington is doing a great job on this case. “The City is doubling down on its justification in hosting what for all intents and purposes was a state-run drag queen story hour,” Ramos said. “Regardless of your views, the City should refrain from making prior restraints on speech.”
We were hopeful the City of Spokane would rectify its unfortunate decision to arrest Pastor Yaghtin. The event became a spectacle where a terrible injustice occurred. This is precisely why we opened our office in Seattle.
Please continue to keep this case in your prayers as we seek to vindicate the Pastor's free speech rights.
Running the Race,
Brad Dacus
Founder and President of Pacific Justice Institute
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