FIRE threatens lawsuit against officials who kicked out man for wearing pro-life sweatshirt inside Colorado Capitol

DENVER, July 16, 2024 — Jeffrey Hunt was forced out of the state Capitol’s senate gallery by government officials. His offense? Wearing a shirt they didn’t like.

Today, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression demanded the sergeants-at-arms allow Coloradans to silently and respectfully express their opinions with pins and apparel in the state Capitol — or face a First Amendment lawsuit.  

“I was shocked when I was asked to leave the senate gallery simply for wearing a pro-life sweatshirt,” said Hunt. “I felt like I was being targeted for expressing my American right to free speech. My goal with this case is to make sure this type of censorship doesn't happen to anyone else, especially in the heart of our state’s democracy.”

Hunt is a talk radio host and a former employee of Colorado Christian University, which also calls itself “Pro-Life U.” On March 21, 2023, Hunt visited the Colorado State Senate with a group to silently oppose three bills that would regulate and penalize crisis pregnancy centers. Hunt wore a sweatshirt reading “Pro-Life U” inside the gallery to express his pro-life stance. Sergeant-at-Arms Ben Trujillo told Hunt that “Pro-Life U” is a “political statement” prohibited by a gallery rule. 

COURTESY PHOTOS OF JEFFREY HUNT

Trujillo and Chief Sergeant-at-Arms Frank Lombardi gave Hunt a choice: Remove the sweatshirt and re-enter the gallery or wait outside the gallery. Hunt chose the latter.

“If there’s anywhere people’s First Amendment rights should be safe, it’s in their state capitol,” said FIRE attorney Josh Bleisch. “Hunt had every right to be there silently expressing his opinion.”

Just weeks before Hunt was forced to leave the gallery, sergeants-at-arms allowed a group of students to sit in the gallery wearing pro-gun-control shirts. In light of this double standard, today’s letter reminded Colorado officials that the First Amendment prohibits them from relying on unreasonable rules that allow for discriminatory or inconsistent enforcement.

“Officials can’t kick you out of public galleries just because they don’t like the message on your shirt,” said FIRE attorney Raul Ruiz. “We look forward to vindicating Hunt’s rights, and the rights of every American, regardless of their opinions.”

FIRE’s letter calls on officials to remove the rule prohibiting “political” apparel and pins and confirm that apparel expressing a political message is permitted in the galleries. 

If the sergeants-at-arms do not respond by July 30, FIRE will sue to vindicate Coloradans’ right to free expression.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.

CONTACT
Katie Kortepeter, Communications Campaign Manager, FIRE: 215-717-3473; media@thefire.org