After a free speech foundation threatened to sue, the State Capitol of Colorado has changed its rules to allow political apparel in its galleries.
Online publication Westword reported that the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) announced the new rule on Aug. 14. Previously, the Capitol’s visitor page prohibited “pins or apparel expressing political statements” in the House and Senate galleries. The rule is no longer on the website.
The rule change was a response to FIRE’s letter to the Senate threatening to sue over the policy’s apparent violation of the First Amendment. The letter mentioned an incident involving FIRE’s client Jeff Hunt, a radio host who was removed from the Senate gallery in March 2023 for wearing a sweatshirt bearing the words “Pro-life U.”
Hunt, who was at the Senate to advocate for the unborn against pro-abortion legislation, was ushered out of the gallery by a sergeant-at-arms for violating the policy that prohibited clothing with political statements. However, Hunt argued that the rule was not enforced consistently.
Westword reported that two days after Hunt was removed from the Senate gallery, “hundreds of East High School students flooded the House and Senate galleries,” most of whom were wearing shirts that said “Angels Against Gun Violence.” These students were not removed from the gallery.
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Secretary of the Senate Cindi Markwell told Westword in March 2023 that the purpose of the rule “is to avoid conflict between opposing sides on any particular issue;” however, she said the high school students were not removed because the Senate was not discussing gun control policies.
According to Westword, FIRE attorney Josh Bleisch stated, “Jeff should have been allowed to express his opinions in a non-disruptive manner, but the rule was overbroad and gave officials too much leeway to arbitrarily enforce the ban.”
He added that now that rule has changed, “Coloradans can wear a political shirt where politics happens.”
Westword reported that Hunt stated that he was “very satisfied” with the change, stating, “We have advanced the free-speech rights of all Coloradans at the people’s house!”
LifeNews Note: Grace Porto writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.
