by Jorge Gomez • 1 minute
First Liberty recently argued in a federal appeals court on behalf of Zachary Hebb, a Christian pro-life advocate in Asheville, North Carolina. The city passed an ordinance that silences Zachary’s free speech.
During oral argument, we urged the 4th Circuit to uphold the lower court decision affirming Zachary’s constitutional right to offer alternatives to women seeking an abortion.
He believes abortion is the wrongful killing of a person and his religious beliefs compel him to share alternatives with those seeking to terminate their pregnancy. He shares this life-affirming message with individuals visiting the Asheville Health Center, which is run by Planned Parenthood. He offers tangible aid for keeping babies, informs listeners about adoption and shares his Christian faith using an amplifier and speaking in a conversational tone at a volume level appropriate for the busy street.
The City of Asheville conspired with Planned Parenthood to put in place an amplification ban that would put a buffer zone around the building. The city eventually passed an ordinance that effectively bans Zachary from being able to express his message, simply because it is pro-life.
Our attorneys filed a federal lawsuit, and the district court ruled for Zachary, finding that the amplification ban violates the First Amendment and his right to free speech. First Liberty Senior Counsel Nate Kellum explained that the city’s only apparent motivation for the amplification ban is to silence pro-life speech.
“The First Amendment fully protects Zachary Hebb’s right to share his views about abortion to anyone visiting the Asheville Health Center,” Kellum said.
The First Amendment becomes meaningless when the state disfavors and restricts the speech and viewpoints of Americans, including those whose actions and messages are informed by religious convictions. The freedom of expression that is so deeply cherished in America cannot flourish if the government has the power to make the peaceful, free exchange of ideas a crime.
People of faith should not be silenced simply because they express a message the government does not like. First Liberty will continue to defend the right of all Americans from vindictive laws that restrict their First Amendment rights.
Related Cases:
First Liberty Challenges Colorado Law That Targets Faith Based Pro-Life Speech
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