WASHINGTON (AP) – A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Monday that Boston violated a conservative activist’s right to free speech when it denied his request to fly a Christian flagpole along with City Hall.
Judge Stephen Breyer wrote in court that the city discriminated against activist Harold Schurtleff because of his “religious views”, even though he regularly approved the use of three flags outside city hall. Flags of Massachusetts and Boston.
Sometimes, the city removes its sign and temporarily raises another flag.
Schurtleff and his camp constitution wanted to hang a white banner with a red cross on a blue background in the upper left corner, called the Christian flag.
Breyer said the case depends on whether waving the flag is a government law, where Boston can do whatever it wants, or with private parties like Shortleaf.
Breyer wrote that “the lack of city involvement in choosing flags or developing their messages forces us to consider flag raising as a private, non-governmental word, although nothing prevents Boston to change its policies in the future. “.
The city said that if it loses to the Supreme Court, it is likely to change its policy to have more control over which flags they can fly.
The case is Schurtleff v. Boston, 20-1800.
Source: Huffpost
