(NewsReady.com) – Freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion are at the very foundation of American democracy. The Colorado legislature is facing allegations that it censored a pro-life activist. Now, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is threatening to sue.
On July 16, FIRE announced that it sent a letter to Colorado Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Benjamin Trujillo, Senate Chief Sergeant-At-Arms Frank Lombardi, and House Chief Sergeant-At-Arms Stephen Rosenthal demanding they stop enforcing their dress code. There is currently a prohibition on clothing that expresses political statements inside the state Senate and House chambers. FIRE stated that the dress code is a violation of the First Amendment.
The group is representing Jeffrey Hunt. In March 2023, Hunt visited the Colorado legislature with his colleagues from Colorado Christian University. The pro-life activists were there to protest three pieces of legislation that sought to regulate pregnancy crisis centers. Hunt was wearing a “Pro-Life U” sweatshirt.
An official told Hunt that he had to leave the gallery. Trujillo spoke to Hunt and told him that his shirt violated the rules. Lombardi agreed with Trujillo. FIRE stated that the officials told Hunt that he could take the sweater off or sit outside the gallery.
According to FIRE, Hunt sat outside the gallery because he wasn’t willing “to sacrifice his First Amendment rights.”
Hunt said it “shocked” him when officials asked him to vacate the gallery for “wearing a pro-life sweatshirt.” He went on to say he felt like he was being targeted for expressing his constitutional rights, and he’s made it his goal to prevent “censorship” like that from ever happening again.
FIRE alleges the dress code is not enforced fairly, instead claiming the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms enforces it in a “viewpoint-discriminatory” way. The group pointed to a pro-gun control demonstration where students were allowed to wear shirts expressing their viewpoints without being bothered by officials.
The organization demanded written confirmation that the rule would no longer be enforced. The Senate and House Sergeants-at-Arms didn’t respond.
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