As always, we are pleased to report to you each month our significant activities and accomplishments, all of which are made possible by your generous support. Â Here are the highlights for August 2014:
* On August 1, AFLC filed its “reply brief” in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (Boston, MA), in its lawsuits against the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), challenging its refusal to display pro-Israel / anti-jihad advertisements on its buses. Oral argument before the First Circuit is scheduled for October 6. This is actually two cases that were consolidated on appeal.  In short, the government does not want our clients calling murderous jihadis savages.
* On August 6, 13, and 26, AFLC filed additional briefs in a N.Y. federal court in defense of a Christian public school teacher who was threatened with losing her job if she didn’t “cleanse” her classroom of all things religious, including a quote from President Reagan that mentions “God” and small “sticky notes” with handwritten Bible verses that she discreetly displayed on the backside of her desk.
* On August 11, AFLC filed a petition for a writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, asking the Court to review the rejection of their trademark application for STOP THE ISLAMISATION OF AMERICA. In its petition, AFLC argues that the Supreme Court should take up the case because the lower court effectively granted the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office license to read a trademark applicant’s blog and other political writings and to then reject the trademark because the government did not approve of the applicant’s political viewpoint. This is a serious threat to free speech.
* As previously reported, AFLC struck a blow against CAIR and its Muslim Brotherhood “civilization jihad” when a Michigan federal judge granted its motion to “quash” harassing and burdensome subpoenas issued by CAIR lawyers to Ms. Zaba Davis, a private citizen who received the subpoenas because she publicly expressed her opposition to the construction of an Islamic center in her neighborhood. The judge awarded AFLC its attorneys’ fees and costs for having to bring the motion.  However, CAIR recently filed a motion, objecting to the award of fees and costs. On August 14, AFLC responded.
* On August 26, AFLC Co-Founder and Senior Counsel Robert J. Muise gave a speech titled, “Fighting for Faith and Freedom” to members of Legatus, an organization of influential Catholic business owners who pledge to promote their faith in their personal, professional, and business lives.
* On August 27, the Sixth Circuit issued a “dangerously wrong” split decision in the case of Bible Believers v. Wayne County. In this case, AFLC is representing Christian evangelist who were attacked by a violent, Muslim mob while preaching at an Arab festival in Dearborn, Michigan in 2012. Rather than arresting the violent Muslims, officers from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office ordered the Christians to halt their peaceful speech activity under threat of arrest for disorderly conduct. AFLC is preparing a petition for rehearing en banc, asking the full court to rehear this critically important First Amendment case.
* During August, AFLC served its lawsuit on President Obama and several of his top cabinet officials. The lawsuit alleges that Obama violated the separation of powers principle of the U.S. Constitution by refusing to “faithfully execute” the law as passed by Congress. AFLC’s lawsuit, appropriately captioned American Freedom Law Center v. Obama, was filed on July 4th, our Independence Day. (Watch video report on this case here).
* AFLC has been busy preparing a new lawsuit against the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the transit authority in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for refusing to run our clients’ pro-Israel / anti-jihad advertisements on its buses. Stay tuned for more details on this important First Amendment case.
* AFLC has also been busy preparing several other new and important lawsuits that we will be revealing in the coming months.
* Finally, during this month, AFLC attorneys appeared on local and national radio and television programs and were quoted in national print media. This is an important component of our “lawfare” effort, as we seek to educate the public in order to shape public opinion regarding important issues affecting faith and freedom. We also continue to use social media to support this critically important effort (remember to “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter . . . and urge your family and friends to do the same!).
Thank you again for your prayers and your financial support—which makes all of this possible! God bless you, and may He continue to bless America!