DENVER — A conservative radio talk-show host is taking legal action after being booted from the Colorado State Capitol’s Senate gallery for refusing to take off his pro-life sweatshirt.
Jeffrey Hunt, who co-hosts a show on KNUS-AM in Denver, said he wore his “Pro-Life U” pullover during a debate last year on a package of pro-choice bills, but was told by the sergeant-at-arms to remove the shirt because it violated the gallery rule against “political statements.”
Mr. Hunt said he left the gallery and sat outside to wait for his friends rather than remove the sweatshirt.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression fired off a letter Tuesday to the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms demanding that they nix their ban on pins and apparel that express “political statements” in the chambers — or face a free-speech lawsuit.
“If there’s anywhere people’s First Amendment rights should be safe, it’s in their state capitol,” said foundation attorney Josh Bleisch. “Hunt had every right to be there silently expressing his opinion.”
The foundation also suggested there may be a political double-standard at play, citing a group of East High School students who wore gun-control T-shirts in the gallery a few weeks earlier without incident. Both houses of the state legislature are controlled by Democrats.
In January, pro-Palestinian protesters displayed small flags and wore large flags around their shoulders in the House gallery, as shown in photos posted by Colorado Politics.
“Enforcing a rule differently because of a speaker’s message is repugnant to the Constitution,” said the foundation in its letter.
Mr. Hunt said “Pro-Life U” is the nickname of Colorado Christian University, where he previously served as director of the Centennial Institute, the school’s public-policy think-tank. The sweatshirt also says “Colorado Christian University.”
Secretary of the Senate Cindi Markwell said previously that the rule was enforced because the Senate was debating abortion-related legislation.
“These bills drew both pro-life and abortion rights constituents,” she told Westword in March 2023. “In accordance with custom and practice and as stated on the signage posted on each side of the Senate gallery, no apparel can be worn expressing political statements. The purpose of the policy is to avoid conflict between opposing sides on any particular issue.”
Colorado officials kicked Jeff Hunt out of the Senate gallery for wearing a sweatshirt that read “Pro-Life U.”
— FIRE (@TheFIREorg) July 16, 2024
Now, FIRE demands the sergeants-at-arms allow Coloradans to silently express their opinions by wearing pins or clothing in the Capitol’s legislative galleries — or face… pic.twitter.com/xnO4WGdLuf
This isn’t the first time pro-lifers have run into trouble for wearing anti-abortion swag in government buildings.
The National Archives and Records Administration agreed to a $10,000 settlement last year after ordering 2023 March for Life participants to remove their pro-life apparel and pins before touring the museum in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Hunt said he was “shocked when I was asked to leave the Senate gallery simply for wearing a pro-life sweatshirt.”
“I felt like I was being targeted for expressing my American right to free speech,” he said. “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.”
The Washington Times has reached out to the House and Senate sergeant-at-arms offices for comment.
“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.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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