News Release
For Immediate Release: 3.3.26
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Pro-Life Advocate Reaches Settlement with City of Asheville to Regain His Right to be Heard
City amended noise ordinance which previously prohibited any amplified pro-life speech outside the city’s only abortion center.
Asheville, NC—First Liberty Institute and the Thomas More Society announced a settlement between the City of Asheville, NC and Zachary Hebb, who was previously denied the ability to share his pro-life message conversationally through an amplifier device outside Asheville Health Center, the only abortion center in Asheville. Now, the city has amended its ordinance to allow amplified speech up to that which is clearly audible 150 feet away from a device, ensuring Hebb and others can be heard by those walking into and around the center.
“We are thrilled Mr. Hebb will now have the opportunity to effectively and winsomely share his pro-life message outside Asheville’s abortion center,” said Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute, Nate Kellum. “It is paramount, now more than ever, that we protect the right of each American to freely express their faith and beliefs in the public square.”
Zachary Hebb believes that abortion is the wrongful killing of human life—a view he is compelled to share with others, especially individuals visiting the Asheville Health Center. He offers tangible aid for keeping babies, informs listeners about adoption, and shares his Christian faith using an amplifier to speak in a conversational tone at a volume level appropriate for the area. After abortion advocates raised concerns over Hebb’s messaging, new language was included in the city ordinance to bar Hebb and others from communicating life-affirming beliefs in close proximity to the abortion center. But now, with this new amendment to the ordinance, Hebb can use an amplifier to speak conversationally and still be heard by those he wants to reach with his messaging.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and 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 or by calling 972-941-4453.
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