The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will hear a Christian event organization’s case against Seattle after a lower court ruled in the city’s favor.
Earlier this year, we told you about Mayday USA, whose organizers say Seattle denied them permission to hold a Christian gathering on Pike Street, the city’s traditional public forum, because of their religious message. Officials redirected them to Cal Anderson Park, a predominantly “LGBTQ+ community.”
As expected, leftists attacked the Christians.
Then-Mayor Bruce Harrell blamed the organizers for provoking a reaction. Apparently, Christians were supposed to answer for the conduct of people attacking them.
The lower court ruled that because Mayday USA had no pending event applications, it lacked standing to seek relief. The court allowed Mayday USA’s claims over past constitutional violations to proceed.
Liberty Counsel (LC), Mayday USA’s legal counsel, argues that the permitting process continues to threaten religious expression. Organizers had to obtain comments and objections from outside groups before receiving a permit, giving those groups influence over whose speech gets a public platform.
Seattle’s public forums belong to the public, including Christians. Believers don’t need the government’s approval in a space officials allow secular groups to speak.
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