"The "anything goes" theory of free speech, critiqued by Justice Samuel Alito ("Justice Alito's First Amendment" by James Taranto and David Rivkin Jr., op-ed, Oct. 2), has lately produced another outrageous for a Jew result. Protesters gathered around an Ann Arbor, Mich., synagogue on Saturday mornings, as Sabbath services were being held, to display signs that condemned the Jewish people and Israel. The signs said: "Jewish Power Corrupts," "Stop Funding Israel" and "End the Palestinian Holocaust."
Two worshipers brought a civil-rights lawsuit in federal court to prohibit the protesters from standing within 1,000 feet of the synagogue. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit directed that the lawsuit be dismissed because even deliberate harassment and interference with Jews' access to worship was constitutionally protected free speech concerning "American-Israeli relations."
Supreme Court review was requested and denied, with no justice even asking the protesters to respond to the petition. The protesters then demanded that the plaintiffs reimburse their lawyers' fees to the tune of $158,721.75. The Sixth Circuit approved this penalty, finding that the plaintiffs had filed a "frivolous" claim. On its opening day, the Supreme Court again rejected the worshipers' position without even ordering the protesters to defend the decision of the lower court.
Nathan Lewin
Potomac, Md.
Mr. Lewin represented one of the Ann Arbor plaintiffs in seeking Supreme Court review."" [1]
1. The Unjust Result of 'Anything Goes' Speech. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 05 Oct 2023: A.16.
Komentarų nėra:
Rašyti komentarą