John,
Our litigation in defense of the First Amendment is heating up and I wanted to give you two critical updates:
1. Mahoney v. U.S. Capitol Police Board
As you may recall, we’re suing the U.S. Capitol Police Board for refusing to allow Rev. Patrick Mahoney to hold peaceful prayer vigils on the western lawn outside the U.S. Capitol building.
For two years now, the U.S. Capitol Police Board have denied Rev. Mahoney’s permit request to host a Good Friday service on the western lawn. They also denied his permit request to host a prayer vigil on 9/11—to pray for healing for our country.
But while the Capitol Police Board denied his right to assemble and pray outside the Capitol building, it approved permits for political rallies on the same lawn.
This is a blatant violation of the First Amendment—the government cannot treat religious speech like second class speech unworthy of constitutional protection—we won’t stand for this injustice!
With your support, we’re preparing for our hearing on our motion for a preliminary injunction. That hearing is scheduled for July 29th.
We’re committed to protecting the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, and the freedom of public assembly – and this case is critical to ensuring that there is no double standard, and everyone has equal access to public grounds.
2. Givens v. Newsom
Our team has been zealously defending your First Amendment right to protest, in Givens v. Newsom, for over two years now.
California Governor Gavin Newsom banned all public protests in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
You and I both know the Constitution doesn’t afford him such power over our First Amendment rights.
But that didn’t stop him.
Not only did he outlaw public protests, but he also enforced his prohibition on public protests disparately.
So while Americans who wanted to protest Governor Newsom’s anti-Free Speech policies could not gather to protest, Newsom turned a blind eye to mass riots and BLM rallies!
It’s clear that Newsom was only standing in the way of those who may disagree with him.
Like Ron Givens and a group of Second Amendment supporters who wanted to hold a peaceful protest against Newsom and his cronies who were blocking firearm transfers and permits.
A hearing on our summary judgment motion has just been set for August 9th where we will argue that the governor did not have the legal authority to issue a blanket ban on your right to protest publicly.
Both of these hearings are very important.
Even as many folks are off for the summer or travelling to see family and friends – we’re busier than ever and we still need your help!
Your support is more important now than it ever has been as the battles for our freedoms become more numerous.
With your continued support, I’m confident that we can continue to fight and WIN these cases and so many others like them.
Thank you again for all that you do.
Onward to victory,
