by Jayla Ward • 2 minutes
First Liberty received a tremendous outpouring of support for our U.S. Supreme Court case involving Gabriel Olivier, an evangelist who was banned from sharing his faith in a public park and then denied opportunity to assert his constitutional claims in court.
More than 15 friend-of-the-court briefs were filed in support of Gabe. They represent organizations and individuals across different faiths and affiliations:
“We are grateful to receive a tremendous outpouring of support from such a diverse group of organizations and individuals,” said First Liberty Senior Counsel Nate Kellum. “The amicus briefs show just how important and impactful this case is to the civil rights of all Americans.”
An Opportunity to Protect All Americans
This case presents the Supreme Court with a unique opportunity to protect the right of every American to challenge injustice—including violations of their religious freedom.
Gabe is a Christian who has a passion for sharing his faith with others. Standing outside well-attended events, he shares the Gospel, hoping to start conversations and reach as many people as possible.
But the City of Brandon, Mississippi issued an unconstitutional ordinance that bans Gabe from communicating his religious beliefs to others in a city park. They forced him to go to a remote “protest” area where his message can’t be heard. He was arrested and fined when he didn’t stay there.
Gabe challenged the local ordinance in federal court so he could go back and evangelize. But, because he paid the fine in state criminal court, the court dismissed his constitutional claim, without even considering the merits. In other words, Gabriel was denied his day in court, which effectively denied him religious freedom.
The right of every American to ensure their constitutional freedoms in court is at stake in this important case.
“Every American has First Amendment rights to free speech; and every American has a right to their day in court,” said Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty. “Both of these rights were violated for Gabe Olivier. The Supreme Court will now decide whether those rights will be protected for all Americans.”
Attorney Hiram Sasser explains why this case could have a ripple effect across America:
Thanks to faithful First Liberty supporters like you, we can keep fighting on behalf of Americans like Gabe.
But our work is not finished yet. To secure a victory, we’ll need your continued support.
The next several months will be incredibly busy. Arguing a case at the highest court in the country always demands a great deal of work and resources, and we need to replenish our arsenal to prepare for oral argument. Your gift today will make a tremendous difference in this final phase.
Will you support First Liberty with a timely donation? You support can help ensure our legal team and our arguments are razor-sharp when we go before the justices.
 |
|
|
