DENVER — Visitors to the Colorado State Capitol will no longer be monitored by the political fashion police.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said the Capitol has dropped its policy forbidding politically themed apparel in the House and Senate galleries after pushback from a local radio host who was kicked out for wearing a “Pro-Life U” pullover.
“Faced with a potential First Amendment lawsuit, leaders of the Colorado House and Senate agreed to rescind the Capitol galleries’ unconstitutional ban on pins and apparel ‘expressing political statements,’” said the foundation in a Wednesday statement.
A state spokesperson confirmed to The Washington Times later in the day that the policy barring political statements on apparel and pins has been revoked.
Jeff Hunt, who hosts a morning show on Denver radio station KNUS, 710-AM, said he was “thrilled at this outcome.”
“Now, Coloradans are free to share their voices, particularly at the state Capitol, where the work of the people takes place,” he said.
Mr. Hunt and several friends were sitting in the Senate gallery during a debate on abortion-related bills in May 2023 when he was told by the sergeant-at-arms that his “Pro-Life U” sweatshirt violated the ban on “pins or apparel expressing political statements.”
Mr. Hunt said he was told to remove the pullover or leave, even though a group of students wearing pro-gun control shirts were ushered in without incident.
Both houses of the state legislature are controlled by the Democrats.
The foundation sent a letter last month urging the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms to stop enforcing the political-apparel ban, calling it a “violation of the First Amendment rights of our client and all Coloradans.”
“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,” FIRE attorney Josh Bleisch said. “Now that the ban is no more, Coloradans can wear a political shirt where politics happens.”
As of Tuesday, the foundation said that “the problematic language about political apparel has been scrubbed from the Capitol website and gallery signs.”
Mr. Hunt said “Pro-Life U” is the nickname of Colorado Christian University, where he served until recently as director of the school’s Centennial Institute. The sweatshirt also says “Colorado Christian University.”
“Colorado did the right thing,” foundation attorney Raul Ruiz said. “Other states should be on notice that bans on political expression will not be tolerated.”
Wearing pro-life swag in government buildings appears to be particularly problematic.
Last year, the National Archives and Records Administration agreed to a $10,000 settlement after ordering 2023 March for Life participants to remove their pro-life apparel and pins before touring the museum in Washington, D.C.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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