Lost Liberties: University Silences Free Speech

The Alliance Defense Fund continues to challenge an Ohio university’s policy that silences Christians on school grounds.
null In October 2002, Jim Gilles was witnessing on the campus of Miami University when he was approached by security officers, who told him that without a permit, free speech was not allowed throughout the entire university. Click here to read the rest from One NewsNow!

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The Alliance Defense Fund continues to challenge an Ohio university’s policy that silences Christians on school grounds.

In October 2002, Jim Gilles was witnessing on the campus of Miami University when he was approached by security officers, who told him that without a permit, free speech was not allowed throughout the entire university. After being informed he could only speak on sidewalks and streets outside the campus, Gilles sued — and subsequently (April 2007), a federal judge dismissed the case, ruling in favor of the university.

Recently, Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) attorneys took part in oral arguments before the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Gilles v. Garland. ADF attorney Nate Kellum says there is no doubt authorities violated Gilles’ First Amendment rights.

“The Constitution basically recognizes that as citizens, including citizens like Mr. Gilles, we all enjoy the right to speak in public places,” he argues. “We all enjoy the right to speak on the public sidewalk, we have the right to speak in a public park, and we have the right to speak on these public open areas on the campus of public universities.”

Kellum believes it could take up to a year for the appeals court to issue a ruling. In the meantime, Christian witness has been silenced on the university grounds. However, Kellum says college campuses should encourage free speech — even if such speech is not politically correct.

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