In June, Washington, D.C., employees painted “Black Lives Matter” on 16th Street, N.W., across from the White House. Black Lives Matter D.C. responded by painting “Defund the Police” next to the city’s mural. The city let the message stand and then allowed activists to deface private and public property with impunity, even though activists had not even applied for permits.
Yet the city did not respond to permit requests from pro-life groups seeking a “Black Pre-Born Lives Matter.” One of the groups received a permit for a rally which included plans to paint a mural and a police officer said they could use paint on the street, but when they arrived, cops prevented the pro-lifers from painting. When activists attempted to write their message in washable chalk, police arrested them.
On Wednesday, the pro-life groups — the black pro-life group Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America —
sued Washington, D.C., and Bowser for discrimination that violated the rights to religious freedom, free speech, due process, and assembly.
“The government can’t discriminate against certain viewpoints by allowing some voices to be heard while silencing others,” Elissa Graves, legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing the pro-life groups,
said in a statement. “Because of the city’s actions, Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America weren’t able to participate in the public square as other groups have. The First Amendment prohibits the government from picking and choosing whose speech to allow.”
