Free Republic

No fewer than 60 organizations branded "hate groups" or otherwise attacked by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) are considering legal action against the left-wing smear factory, a Christian legal nonprofit leader confirmed to PJ Media on Tuesday. He suggested that the $3 million settlement and apology the SPLC gave to Maajid Nawaz and his Quilliam Foundation on Monday would encourage further legal action. "We haven't filed anything against the SPLC, but I think a number of organizations have been considering filing lawsuits against the SPLC, because they have been doing to a lot of organizations exactly what they did...

The University of Virginia says it will not recognize a conservative club because the organization limits its membership to those who affirm conservative principles. In a letter on Friday, lawyers for Young America’s Foundation said the university’s policy is both “unconstitutional” and a violation of Virginia state law. “A pro-choice club may deny leadership positions to pro-life students, and a gun control group may determine that it does not wish to extend membership to NRA members,” Casey Mattox, senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom, wrote in the letter. “Yet, by the terms of this policy — and its application...

A court in Arizona has rejected arguments of evangelical Christian wedding invitation designers that a Phoenix ordinance protecting discrimination against LGBT people forces them to make artwork for same-sex couples, which is against their religious beliefs and freedoms of speech and religion. The Christians plan to appeal. Judge Karen Mullins of Maricopa County Superior Court this week ruled that the Phoenix ordinance does not violate Arizona's free speech and free exercise of religion laws, quashing an attempt by Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, owners of Brush & Nib Studio, to override the ordinance, AZ Central reported. The Phoenix non-discrimination ordinance...

Roman Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia criticized the Southern Poverty Law Center for falsely labeling the Alliance Defending Freedom as a “hate group.” “When an organization like the Southern Poverty Law Center labels a mainstream religious liberty advocate like the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) as a ‘hate group’, it’s simply betraying its own bitter contempt for the people and convictions the ADF defends,” Chaput wrote in the his weekly column, which was posted on the website of the Archdiocese of Philadlephia. “So yes,” Chaput wrote, “hate has a home here alright: not just among white nationalists, immigrant-haters and neo-Nazis,...

Many Christian organizations are fearful for their safety after CNN published a bogus “hate map” concocted by the Southern Poverty Law Center. “Here are all the active hate groups where you live,” CNN’s headline declared. The list included among others American Family Association, Family Research Council, Alliance Defending Freedom, Liberty Counsel and Pacific Justice Institute. American Family Association blasted the CNN story calling it a “sham news article that could easily incite violence and place AFA employees and supporters in harm’s way.” Liberty Counsel President Mat Staver demanded an immediate retraction – calling CNN’s report “false, defamatory and dangerous.” “Liberty...

You don’t want to accidentally get involved with a hate group, right? Well, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) wants to ensure you don’t. That’s why the liberal-leaning organization, which is known for tracking civil rights abuses and hate crimes, published a handy list you can reference. Unfortunately, their classification of “hate group” includes Christian organizations who espouse the traditional, Biblical belief in marriage and family. A well-known and respected Christian organization, Alliance Defending Freedom, made the list for being “anti-LGBT,” despite the fact that they have no record violence or discrimination. Now, CNN has republished SPLC’s list, which originally...

(Photo: ADF/Screengrab)Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers in Richland, Washington, speaks as supporters rally around her in November 2016.Barronelle Stutzman, also known as the "Christian grandmpa florist," is now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her appeal to reverse a Washington court's decision earlier this year that found her guilty of discrimination for refusing to provide flowers for a gay wedding.The Associated Press reported on Sunday that lawyers for Stutzman are claiming that Washington's high court violated her First Amendment protection for artistic expression in its ruling in February.Alliance Defending Freedom positioned in a post on Friday that Stutzman is taking...

Alliance Defending Freedom is demanding a retraction and apology from ABC News after reporters smeared one of the nation’s most respected religious liberty law firms as a ‘hate group.’ABC News reporters Pete Madden and Erin Galloway wrote a scathing report on a speech Attorney General Jeff Sessions delivered behind closed doors at the Summit on Religious Liberty at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point, California.“Jeff Sessions addresses ‘anti-LGBT hate group,’ but DOJ won’t release his remarks,” read the headline.“Attorney General Jeff Sessions delivered a speech to an alleged hate group at an event closed to reporters on Tuesday night, but the...

ABC News’ Pete Madden and Erin Galloway smeared Christians who believe the Bill of Rights secures religious liberty as a “hate group,” in an article this week headlined, “Jeff Sessions addresses ‘anti-LGBT hate group,’ but DOJ won’t release his remarks.” The lede of the story made it clear this was not just the work of a rogue headline writer but the failure of the reporters themselves: Attorney General Jeff Sessions delivered a speech to an alleged hate group at an event closed to reporters on Tuesday night, but the Department of Justice is refusing to reveal what he said. First,...

A proposal to introduce a multi-role 35mm gun system into the RAN could broaden capabilities and provide potential commonality with the ground-based air defence requirement being sought under Project Land 19 Phase 7B. Julian Kerr | Sydney This would, however, require a major change to the status quo, and the acceptance by Navy of the benefits to be derived from a sophisticated gun system in a calibre with which it is not familiar in the Australian environment. Current RAN smaller-calibre weaponry is a mixed bag; 30mm cannon on the Huon class minehunters, 25mm cannon on the Canberra class Landing Helicopter...

Frauke Petry, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), said on Wednesday she would not lead the anti-immigration party's campaign ahead of a Sept. 24 federal election. "In order to put an end to all speculation in this regard, I am using the opportunity of this video message to clearly state that I am neither available for a lone lead candidacy nor for participation in a top team," she said on Facebook.

Reaffirms nationwide injunction blocking White House policy for schools (WND) – For a third time, a federal judge has affirmed a nationwide injunction against the Obama administration’s agenda to impose mandatory open-restroom policies on schools from coast to coast, scolding the White House for repeating old arguments and catching those who submitted the newest arguments in a lie. The ruling this week from U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor left intact his nationwide injunction against Obama’s decision that transgender public school students can use the restroom of their choice, rather than the restroom designated for their biological gender. The White House...

At least 51 people have been murdered by an Islamist-linked militia in the Congo in a brutal massacre where militants hacked apart civilians with machetes. The army says the attack was carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces, a Islamist group originating from Uganda which merged with other disparate militias. The group has carried out an insurgency against the Ugandan and the Congolese governments since 1996. The group is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province and is reported to have links with the Somalian Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabaab.

A new state law that prohibits discrimination against transgender people in public restrooms is “punishing” the protected religious speech of churches and pastors, a conservative Christian organization claims in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday. Alliance Defending Freedom, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, said it sued on behalf of four Massachusetts churches to protect their right to operate their facilities “in a manner that doesn’t violate their core religious beliefs.” The lawsuit names Democratic state Attorney General Maura Healey and members of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination as defendants. The law, which was signed by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in July and...

FULL TITLE: Lawsuit: Transgender 'Girl' Twerked, Grinded Against Biological Girls In Locker Room, Leaving Them in Tears A lawsuit filed in federal court is uncovering the consequences of the Obama Administration’s unlawfully imposed transgender agenda. After capitulating to Obama’s public school transgender edict in May, a Minnesota high school is being accused of ignoring complaints of privacy violations by their biologically female students, Fox News’ Todd Starnes reported Wednesday. Funny, this is exactly what the left continually assures us would never happen. According to the bombshell lawsuit, a transgender “girl" student, who participated on girls' sports teams, “twerked,” “grinded” and...

n recent years, a common refrain accompanying nearly every demand for newly invented “rights” has been: “It doesn’t affect you, so you can’t be against it.” This claim—whether false or true, subjective or objective—has been played as the ultimate trump card. If you could not point to a direct, immediate, and significant intrusion on your life, then your concerns—no matter how thoughtful and legitimate—were sacrificed at the altar of the New Regime. Times change. On Wednesday, Alliance Defending Freedom filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of high school students and parents, asking the court to strike down a Minnesota school...

In the current tussle for the future of Germany, Frauke Petry is what you might call the anti-Angela Merkel. Where Ms. Merkel, the chancellor, has welcomed refugees, Ms. Petry, a rising far-right leader, has said border guards might need to turn guns on anyone crossing a frontier illegally.

THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has just five years to sort out its many problems before it should be eradicated, a rising German politician has declared. Ms Petry said Britain’s historic decision to leave the EU last month should be an inspiration for other countries across the continent - with an increasing number of people in Germany now favouring their own exit. She said: “I think we must finally set a deadline for the EU or all EU governments: if we don’t achieve any radical reforms in five years, then the question will also be raised in Germany.” Ms Petry’s party...

A Washington grandmother and florist of 40 years who refused to service gay weddings because of her faith will now be forced to arrange flowers for gay ceremonies, a judge ruled Wednesday. On top of that, the woman, Barronelle Stutzman, will have to pay the legal penalties imposed by the judge as well as attorney’s fees. Benton County Superior Court Judge Alex Ekstrom ruled in a summary judgement that Stutzman violated anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws. Ekstrom ruled that the gay couple could collect penalties not just from her business, but also from her personally, according to Alliance Defending Freedom,...

A group called Alliance Defending Freedom organized a group of around 1,600 pastors who endorsed candidates from the pulpit in the weeks leading up to tomorrows election. Since the 1950’s the IRS has banned 501(c)(3) tax exempt churches from engaging in political activity, including endorsing candidates. The IRS has never enforced the law. Every few years the government sends out warning letters but it’s never actually taken the law to court. They likely know it wouldn’t be upheld by the Supreme Court. The Alliance Defending Freedom appears to be a conservative group and as such their 1,600 pastors appear to...