Justice for All’s Freedom of Speech Vindicated
El Cajon, CA—Justice for All (JFA) immediately contacted the National Center for Law & Policy (NCLP) after a misguided Grossmont College administrator denied JFA access to the campus’ main quad area, because “the college restricts the use of its facilities for religious, political or ideological groups.” JFA is a life-affirming Christian organization that regularly hosts peaceful dialogues above the precious value of human life on public college and university campuses.
The National Center for Law & Policy (NCLP) submitted a detailed legal demand letter to Grossmont, explaining that its blatant viewpoint discrimination violated both the Freedom of Speech Clause of the First Amendment and the California Civic Center Act. The letter demanded that the college apologize to JFA for violating its civil rights, confirm the college will comply with the law by granting JFA access to campus, and also agree to properly train its staff on how to comply with the applicable laws. You can read the NCLP powerful demand letter here.
Subsequently, Grossmont College President Denise Whisenhunt personally telephoned the National Center for Law & Policy to confirm Grossmont’s complete and total legal capitulation. Whisenhunt, who herself has a law degree from Catholic University in America, informed the NCLP’s Dean Broyles that Grossmont is acutely committed to free speech and confirmed the decision to bar JFA’s from campus was an error committed by an inexperienced staff member. Whisenhunt apologized for the Grossmont administrator’s legal error and personally extended a welcome to JFA to come to the Grossmont campus. Whisenhunt also committed to connecting JFA to the appropriate Dean, who would personally ensure that JFA was accommodated on campus.
In a later email correspondence, Whisenhundt also confirmed that Grossmont will provide annual free speech and facility use legal (“constitutional sensitivity”) training for faculty and staff. In addition, she promised that Grossmont will create a detailed Freedom of Speech brochure, which will be posted on its website. And, finally, Whisenhundt committed that Grossmont will issue an annual Freedom of Speech reminder email to all faculty, staff, and students.
“When the speech of Christian groups is suppressed on college campuses, it is sometimes difficult to know whether it is because of anti-Christian bigotry, ignorance of the law, or both,” stated NCLP President Dean Broyles. “Regardless of the reason, there is no legitimate excuse. For decades, the law has been clear that the First Amendment precludes government authority to regulate, censor, or ban speech because of its content or viewpoint, including religious speech.” Broyles continued, “The U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights protects ideas, beliefs, and their public expression from government censorship or control, even unpopular ideas that dissent from government ideological orthodoxies. The fact that Grossmont thought, even for a second, that it could ban ‘religious, political or ideological’ groups from its campus is Orwellian and blatantly unconstitutional. However, we are very pleased that Grossmont agreed to resolve this unfortunate situation without forcing us to resort to a federal civil rights lawsuit.”
“I reached out to Dean Broyles at the NCLP, and he was quick to use his expertise and legal knowledge to defend Justice For All’s right to engage in free speech activities on public university campuses,” said JFA staff member Rebekah Dyer. She continued, “Because of Mr. Broyles’ help, I can now plan to do an event at Grossmont’s campus in the fall so we can engage students on the abortion issue, helping people to see the value of unborn children.”
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About the National Center for Law & Policy
The National Center for Law & Policy is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of religious freedom, the affirmation of life, parental rights, and other civil liberties. Please visit our website at www.nclplaw.org.
For further inquiries, comments, or to schedule interviews, please contact Dean Broyles at The National Center for Law & Policy at 760-747-4529 or dbroyles@nclplaw.org.