October was another busy and productive month for the American Freedom Law Center (AFLC), all of which was made possible by your generousĀ support. Ā Here are some of the highlights:
- On October 1, a federal magistrate judge issued a āreport and recommendation,ā recommending thatĀ AFLCās civil rights lawsuitĀ against several officials from theState University of New York at BuffaloĀ (SUNY-Buffalo) for permitting an unruly mob of protestors to purposely disrupt aĀ peaceful, pro-life demonstrationĀ on the universityās campus proceed to discovery. Ā In his report, the federal judge recommended denying the motion to dismiss filed by the SUNY-Buffalo officials, who argued that the lawsuit failed to state a constitutional violation.
- On October 2, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., denied the Department of Justiceās (DOJ) request to stay litigation inĀ AFLCās challengeĀ to the recently announced regulations enforcing theĀ Obamacare contraceptive services mandateĀ against religious organizations. Ā The DOJ requested a stay of litigation due to the lapse of appropriations as part of the partial government shutdown, but the judge ordered that the litigation must proceed.
- On October 4, Senior Counsel Robert Muise spoke at theĀ Ave Maria Universityās Founderās ClubĀ meeting. Ā Muise gave a presentation titled, āFighting for Faith and Freedom in America.ā
- On October 7, AFLC filed aĀ federal civil rights lawsuitĀ against King County, Washington, for refusing to run anĀ anti-terrorism advertisementĀ that displayed photographs of global terrorists from theĀ FBIās most wanted list, claiming, among other things, that the advertisement was demeaning toward Muslims. Ā AFLC filed the lawsuit on behalf of the advertisementās sponsors, theĀ American Freedom Defense InitiativeĀ (AFDI) and its co-founders,Ā Pamela GellerĀ andRobert Spencer. On October 9, AFLC filed a motion asking the court to force the County to display the advertisement immediately, pending the outcome of the litigation.
- On October 17, Senior Counsel Robert Muise presented oral argument before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit inĀ AFLCās defense of three studentsĀ who are challenging the constitutionality of aĀ California school districtās ban on wearing American flag shirtsĀ to school on āCinco de Mayo.ā Ā School officials claimed that they banned the studentsā pro-American apparel out of concern that it would offend Mexican students on ātheir day.ā
- On October 31, AFLC filed a lengthy brief in support of its motion for summary judgment and in opposition to the DOJās motion to dismiss in theĀ Priests for Lifecase. Ā The government has until November 12 to file their final reply, which will complete the briefing in this important religious liberty case. Ā There may or may not be a hearing in November, but there will be a decision by the end of the year.
- And the list goes on . . . .
Thank you for all of your support, past and present. Ā May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America!