Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

June 5, 2025 at 5:01 PM

The Price of Freedom

First Liberty Institute Honoring those that fight for our freedom | June 5, 2025 Dear John, On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed on the heavily fortified coastline of northern France called Normandy. Nearly half of those troops were Americans. And a…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

June 3, 2025 at 4:31 PM

A New Supreme Court Case?

First Liberty Institute Plus, Save the Date for First Freedom Day |   We're about to have two cases pending review at the U.S. Supreme Court. As a private school state championship game at the Orange Bowl in Florida was getting ready to start, state officials told Cambr…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 31, 2025 at 1:31 PM

An Unexpected Comeback

First Liberty Institute The Ten Commandments are Back! | May 31, 2025 Dear John, We are witnessing an incredible moment in history. Our Founding Fathers always intended for religious liberty to be our nation’s foundation. It’s why they made religious freedom our First…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 30, 2025 at 11:31 AM

Big Court Date Coming Up for Christian Families in California

First Liberty Institute This case could set a precedent for millions of families who choose a religious education | June 4: Federal Appeals Court Date for  Christian Families in California We’ll be in court next week arguing a major case. Winning it could set…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM

They Fought for Us, We Were Honored to Fight for Them

First Liberty Institute Watch a special video message from one of our Navy SEALs | May 25, 2025 Dear John, Freedom. Whenever I see someone wearing the uniform of one our Nation’s armed forces, that’s what I think of. I also think of the high price that the men and wom…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM

Honoring Our Nation's Fallen by Keeping Their Memorials Standing

First Liberty Institute 100 years of the Bladensburg Peace Cross, a gravestone to remember those who never made it home | 100 Years Later, The Bladensburg Peace Cross  Remains Standing as a Symbol of Sacrifice In 1925, The American Legion helped complete the …

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 16, 2025 at 11:31 AM

Big Win: Christian Students Won't Be Forced to Affirm Radical Gender Ideology

First Liberty Institute Federal court orders school to notify parents, provide opt-outs from gender ideology materials | Big Win: Federal Court Orders School to Notify Parents, Provide Opt-Outs from Gender Ideology Lessons We represent two families whose fift…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Returning the Church's Voice

First Liberty Institute It’s time to repeal the Johnson Amendment | May 15, 2025 Dear John, Throughout our nation’s history, houses of worship and religious leaders have played a direct role in political discourse in the United States. Prior to the 1950s, religious …

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 13, 2025 at 8:15 PM

BIG Win for Parents!

First Liberty Institute California Court rules schools have a duty to notify parents and provide opt-outs | May 13, 2025 Just a year ago, a school in Encinitas, CA used its “Buddy Activity Program” to force its fifth-grade students to deliver a message affirming gen…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 9, 2025 at 11:31 AM

3 Legal Victories + Colton Dixon Shout Out on Instagram

First Liberty Institute Big week at First Liberty | Three Legal Victories in a Single Week Restore Religious Freedom to Church, Teacher and Elementary Students What a tremendous week! Our President, CEO & Chief Counsel Kelly Shackelford was recently appoi…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM

A Special Message from Kelly

First Liberty Institute My Take on the Presidential Commission on Religious Freedom | May 6, 2025 Dear John, For me, this year’s National Day of Prayer ceremony in the Rose Garden at The White House was a very humbling experience. During the ceremony, President Trum…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM

Is it Summer Already?

First Liberty Institute The fight for faith is heating up in May |   Dear John, What a start to the month of May for First Liberty! This month, religious freedom is already being impacted in historic ways. But since May is Military Appreciation Month, I want to start wi…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 2, 2025 at 11:30 AM

I was at the White House this week...for a very special announcement

First Liberty Institute Pres. Trump asked me to serve on new religious freedom commission | First Liberty Institute’s Kelly Shackelford Appointed  to President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission During a ceremony celebrating National Day of Prayer, the Pres…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

May 1, 2025 at 8:24 PM

A major announcement from the White House

First Liberty Institute Kelly Shackelford appointed to serve on newly created presidential commission | May 1, 2025 “From the earliest days of our Republic, faith in God has always been the source of the strength that beats in the hearts of our nation. We have to bring …

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM

The new fight to protect faith

First Liberty Institute First Liberty responds to radical extremists' attacks | Dear John, The Trump administration has taken a number of positive actions in recent weeks concerning religious freedom. First, the administration established the White House Office of Faith to “empo…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 25, 2025 at 11:30 AM

California Mayor Orders Christian Mom to Stop Praying

First Liberty Institute “We don’t do prayer,” Ventura Mayor says after interrupting mom who prayed at city council meeting | California Mayor Orders Christian Mom to Stop Praying  at City Council Meeting More than 100 people spoke at the meeting, including a …

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 22, 2025 at 10:09 PM

City Says "We Don't Do Prayer"

First Liberty Institute First Liberty fights for prayer in Ventura, California | April 22, 2025 Dear John, As Tarin Swain walked to the podium at the March Ventura City Council, she felt compelled by religious conviction to pray. She hadn’t planned to pray. In fact,…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM

Landmark First Liberty Case Cited in Presidential Directive

First Liberty Institute Memo to agencies points to our Supreme Court victory in Treat Children Fairly case, Carson v. Makin | Landmark First Liberty Case Cited  in Directive to Federal Agencies As part of an effort to repeal unlawful regulations, the administ…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 17, 2025 at 1:02 AM

Parental rights trump government control

First Liberty Institute Supreme Court asked to intervene in case where a father was denied the right to represent his son | April 16, 2025 Dear John, When Blake Warner sought to represent himself and his minor son in a lawsuit against the Hillsborough School District,…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 11, 2025 at 11:31 AM

'They Walked Me Out of the School Like a Criminal' says Catholic Teacher Who Is Threatened with Termination

First Liberty Institute School district kicked Marisol Castro out of her classroom, no longer teaching students | ‘They Walked Me Out of the School Like a Criminal’  Says Catholic Teacher Who’s Threatened with Termination Marisol Arroyo-Castro refused to take…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Putting religious expression in a box?

First Liberty Institute Supreme Court asked to intervene in case where an evangelist was arrested for spreading the Word of God | April 10, 2025 Dear John, The First Amendment guarantees that all Americans have the right to express their point of view, religious or se…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM

In her own words...

First Liberty Institute Watch a special video message from Marisol Arroyo-Castro | April 8, 2025 Dear John, After three decades of dedicated service as a teacher in Connecticut’s New Britain School District, Marisol Arroyo-Castro is being threatened with termination…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM

10 reasons to pay attention to Arkansas

First Liberty Institute Ten Commandments legislation introduced in Arkansas legislature | Dear John, It seems like every time new legislation authorizes Ten Commandments displays, radicals come out of the woodwork to oppose it. For years, we’ve been defending Arkansas' …

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM

April Kicks Off with Two Key Wins for Religious Liberty

First Liberty Institute Victory for Chaplain Rusty Trubey and New Way Church in Florida | Victory for VA Chaplain Who Was Threatened with  Punishment & Censorship VA Secretary Doug Collins confirmed that reprimands against Chaplain Rusty Truby have been r…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 3, 2025 at 7:16 PM

BREAKING: Victory for ALL VA Chaplains

First Liberty Institute Secretary of Veteran Affairs clears Chaplain Trubey and prohibits any policy censoring chaplains | April 3, 2025 When VA Chaplain Trubey preached a sermon from Romans 1, he had no idea his supervisor would start a firestorm that not only threaten…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

April 2, 2025 at 8:45 PM

The fight for faith is heating up

First Liberty Institute Right now we’re fighting in courtrooms all over the country |   For the past few years, people have been bullied, threatened and canceled because of their faith. The reason? The radical Left knows that faith and fear cannot exist together. That’s…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 29, 2025 at 1:30 PM

Coming soon to Texas and states across the country

First Liberty Institute Ten Commandments legislation passes in Texas Senate | March 29, 2025 John, This could be a defining moment for the future of religious freedom. In 1980, the Supreme Court ruled in Stone v. Graham that a Kentucky law requiring the Ten Command…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 28, 2025 at 11:30 AM

Religious Freedom is Winning the Day, But This Battle Will Intensify

First Liberty Institute Our work is not finished. Well-funded opponents are only going to intensify their attacks. We need your support to be ready on every front. | Supreme Court Wins Are Changing the Future of  Religious Freedom, with Intense Legal Battles …

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 21, 2025 at 11:31 AM

We're Going to Federal Court to Protect This Teacher

First Liberty Institute LAWSUIT FILED: Teacher Marisol should not fear getting fired for expressing her beliefs | Lawsuit Filed to Protect Connecticut Teacher Who’s Being Threatened with Termination Marisol Arroyo-Castro should not be forced to choose between…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 20, 2025 at 5:01 PM

In case you missed it, school forces 5th graders to teach kindergartners about gender ideology

First Liberty Institute Parents have God-given rights to direct their child’s education | March 20, 2025 Dear John,   Parents today face unprecedented challenges to their authority. Many once-trusted professionals like doctors, teachers and administrators are no lo…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 17, 2025 at 9:04 PM

BREAKING: First Liberty files suit against Connecticut School District

First Liberty Institute Religious discrimination will not be tolerated | March 17, 2025 In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in our Coach Kennedy case made it clear that teachers are free to engage in personal expressions of their faith without threat of be…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 14, 2025 at 6:50 PM

Addressing False Media Story

First Liberty Institute Media falsely reports that First Liberty represents former pastor. | Dear John, This past week the media inaccurately reported about First Liberty’s involvement in a case involving some former church members seeking their tithes and money back that they ha…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 14, 2025 at 11:31 AM

Mississippi City Banned This Evangelist from Sharing His Faith at a Public Park

First Liberty Institute We’re asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear this major case that impacts everyone’s civil rights | Supreme Court Is Asked to Hear Case of Evangelist  Banned from Sharing Faith in Public Park The City of Brandon, Mississippi passed a la…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 10, 2025 at 8:31 PM

BREAKING: Supreme Court Declines to Hear Fire Chief Ron Hittle's Case

First Liberty Institute Rare action: two justices file dissent saying Court should have taken the case | March 10, 2025 Today, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear our case on behalf of Fire Chief Ron Hittle, who was fired for attending a leadership conference th…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM

5 Supreme Court Cases to Have on Your Radar

First Liberty Institute Two First Liberty cases are being considered right now! | Supreme Court Watch:  5 Religious Freedom Cases to Keep On Your Radar The Supreme Court is considering whether to take up two major First Liberty cases. Plus, the Court will hea…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 6, 2025 at 6:01 PM

It really is miraculous...

First Liberty Institute God’s providence is responsible for the United States | "By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability and expectation;” George Washington It was only through God’s Providence that 23-year-o…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

March 4, 2025 at 10:59 PM

Fired Physician's Assistant gets her day in court

First Liberty Institute Oral arguments at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and much, much more |   Dear John, Despite the Trump Administration’s strong support of religious freedom, people of faith are still facing major discrimination in the workplace. And that is no…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

February 28, 2025 at 12:31 PM

Your Support and Prayers Truly Encourage These Clients

First Liberty Institute Meet 7 of our clients who are waiting on their cases and need your prayers! | 7 First Liberty Clients Who Need Your Prayers and Support Multiple cases are working their way through the courts right now, including several pending at the…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

February 27, 2025 at 6:02 PM

You won't want to miss Live! this week

First Liberty Institute First Liberty is broadcasting from the NRB convention floor | February 27, 2025 We are coming to you Live! from the floor of the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, and it has been a long time since we’ve been in a room filled with so…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

February 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM

It's Time for the Supreme Court to Weigh In

First Liberty Institute The justices at the Supreme Court are deciding the future of the Fire Chief Ron Hittle and Bethesda University cases | February 22, 2025 Whenever we take on a new client, we do so knowing that we may have to fight all way to the Supreme Court…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

February 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM

One of Our Supreme Court Cases is Getting Huge Support

First Liberty Institute This parental rights case impacts families across the country | Diverse Groups Urge Supreme Court to Hear  Major Parental-Rights Case First Liberty asked the Supreme Court to hear an important case impacting parents’ right to raise the…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

February 14, 2025 at 12:31 PM

VA Hospital Imposes Speech Code to Censor Chaplains' Sermons

First Liberty Institute Chaplain Trubey’s sermon on Romans led to threat of reprimand on permanent record | VA Clinic Imposes Speech Code to Censor  Chaplains’ Sermons Chaplain Rusty Trubey was threatened with a reprimand on his record for preaching a sermon.…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

February 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM

A Teacher's Cross to Bear

First Liberty Institute Teacher facing termination for displaying a crucifix at her desk | February 13, 2025 Dear John, Right now, a devoted teacher of 32 years is fighting for her faith and her job. Marisol Arroyo-Castro's only "offense"? Refusing to hide a small c…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

February 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM

Bureaucrats think they know best

First Liberty Institute Fight back against the indoctrination of our children | Dear John, You’ve heard the phrase, “it takes a village to raise a child.” But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The truth is it takes a village to protect a child from the woke cultur…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

February 7, 2025 at 12:31 PM

Trump Administration Announces Plan to Establish Religious Liberty Task Force

First Liberty Institute Plus, key cabinet roles now under leadership of strong religious freedom advocates | Trump Administration Announces Plan to Establish  Religious Liberty Task Force Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, the President sa…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

January 31, 2025 at 12:31 PM

Big Legal Win for Religious First Responders in Washington, D.C.

First Liberty Institute Federal appeals court overturns ruling that required first responders to be clean shaven regardless of religious beliefs. | DC First Responders Punished for Religious Beliefs  Will Get New Hearing in Federal Court The District of Colum…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

January 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM

Trump's First Day Impact on Religious Freedom

First Liberty Institute Kelly Shackelford unpacks Trumps first-day executive orders and their impact on religious freedom | January 25, 2025 After all of the pomp and circumstance of Inauguration Day ended, President Trump sat down at the Resolute Desk and began sig…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

January 24, 2025 at 12:31 PM

Trump Signs Executive Orders That Impact Religious Freedom

First Liberty Institute Five big changes that will protect people of faith and free exercise of religion. | Pres. Trump Signs Several Executive Orders  That Will Benefit Religious Freedom On day one, President Trump signed a multitude of executive orders. Fir…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

January 24, 2025 at 12:50 AM

BREAKING: Teacher SUSPENDED for her faith

First Liberty Institute Connecticut teacher Marisol Arroyo-Castro facing loss of job for displaying a crucifix in her workspace | January 23, 2025 Fewer than three years ago, we won an important victory for teachers when the Supreme Court issued their decision in the Co…

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  Kelly Shackelford · [email protected]

January 21, 2025 at 10:45 PM

BREAKING: Ohio Pastor Guilty of Criminal Charges for Keeping Church Open

First Liberty Institute Compassion is now a criminal offense. First Liberty will appeal troubling guilty verdict | January 21, 2025 We just received an alarming ruling in our case involving Pastor Chris Avell and Dad’s Place Church in Bryan, Ohio. Today, Pastor Chris w…

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