News Release
For Immediate Release: 2.5.25
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Columbus, Georgia Resident Denied Opportunity to Share Life Affirming Messages Near Abortion Center
Local government targets pro-life speech in denying amplification permits.
Columbus, GA—First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the City of Columbus demanding local resident James Anthony be allowed to share his life-affirming messages to women near the Columbus Women’s Health Organization after being told “you can’t say these things” by local police.
You can read the letter here.
“No one should be barred from or criminally punished for personally and compassionately telling someone they are cared for and that there are options other than abortion,” said Nate Kellum, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “The First Amendment grants all Americans the right to express their point of view, religious or secular, perhaps no more so than on a public sidewalk.”
James Anthony believes that life begins at conception, that all human life has God-given worth and dignity. He feels compelled by these beliefs to advocate publicly on behalf of the unborn. He often shares his message near the Columbus Women’s Health Organization, using an amplifier so he can communicate his message in a conversational tone, always seeking an approved registration statement and in full compliance with the city’s amplified sound ordinance. But after receiving complaints, the chief of police told Anthony they would no longer grant him permission to use amplification near the clinic.
In the letter, First Liberty attorneys state: “The city has no legitimate, much less compelling, interest in banishing all amplified sound—no matter the volume—from a public way in perpetuity. It certainly cannot be said that such a categorical prohibition would qualify as the least restrictive means for addressing any warranted concerns. The city’s decision to unconditionally bar Mr. Anthony’s use of amplified sound to share his religious message on a traditional public forum violates his First Amendment right to free speech, as well as state law.”
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact John Manning at media@firstliberty.org.
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