City of Oakland accused of squelching free-speech rights of Christians

City of Oakland accused of squelching free-speech rights of Christians

The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to review a case in which Christian employees in one California city were told they could not post fliers promoting traditional family values.

The Good News Employees Association (GNEA) was told by officials with the city of Oakland to remove a flyer promoting the "natural family, marriage, and family values." City officials said the statements were "homophobic" and promoted sexual orientation-based harassment.

The Pacific Justice Institute filed a brief supporting GNEA members. PJI president Brad says such cases must be defended.

"This is a very important case in the United States of America if we're to maintain a society where every individual and every group has the same equal protection and the same free-speech rights as everyone else," says Dacus. "Otherwise, we have something that is much more similar to a totalitarian state, where only one viewpoint and one perspective is allowed."

Dacus points out that city officials took no action against other employee groups that were allowed to post pro-homosexual flyers and announcements -- without consequence. "These same individuals are the ones silencing people with a different perspective," the attorney points out.

By allowing such treatment, says Dacus, the city of Oakland is "joining the list of some of the most intolerant, hostile entities that are plaguing free speech and freedom in America today."