Published on December 14, 2023, 1:05 am

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has found itself in the crosshairs of a lawsuit filed by Wallbuilders, a Christian organization. The suit alleges that WMATA infringes on the First Amendment rights of the organization by denying them advertising space due to their Christian worldview, reflecting a perceived bias against Christianity.

The significance of this event is highlighted by the fact that the organization received representation from an unlikely ally – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Typically seen championing left-leaning causes, the ACLU’s involvement underscores the underlying principle at play here: free speech.

As put forth in a press release by ACLU, government entities like WMATA cannot engage in selective censorship and discriminate against speech based on viewpoint. The lawsuit claims that such ad guidelines contradict the First Amendment, which restricts governmental agencies from showing prejudice or inconsistently implemented rules for private speeches based on their views.

To support its claim, it highlights several controversial ads that garnered WMATA’s acceptance despite their controversial nature. These include those advocating Supreme Court term limits and demanding price transparency in hospitals. Notably, this acceptance also extends to religious content like an advertisement for The Book of Mormon musical – a piece infamous for its scathing satire on religion as a whole.

Arthur Spitzer, senior counsel at ACLU’s D.C office accused WMATA of “selective censorship.” He argues that no state holds authority over who gets silenced in public forums. Echoing similar sentiments was Jeremy Dys from First Liberty Institute also involved in this lawsuit who labeled WMATA’s actions as “hypocritical” and “illegal.”

This fresh wave of litigation isn’t precedent-setting though as it marks ACLU’s second legal battle with WMATA over alleged freedom of speech violations —jarred into action previously regarding biased tantamount to censorship towards different organizations and opinions.

Drawing attention to this serious issue is Jeff Charles—a known voice promoting trusted news and offering perspectives through multiple platforms including his podcast “A Fresh Perspective.” His message is clear: Public forums should uphold the highest level of First Amendment protection, ensuring it never gets to choose which viewpoints are permitted in advertising spaces.

In the age of data overload where distinguishing between real news and misinformation is increasingly challenging, the lawsuit highlights a fundamental issue. Free speech, one of the foundational values upon which our society rests must be upheld at all costs. Ultimately, this clash could determine not only how WMATA advertises, but potentially sets a precedent for freedom of speech and advertisement practices nationwide.