Sound Politics Public Blog: Spokane Falls Community College Claims Pro-life Speech Against Washington Law; McKenna's Office to Defend College

March 29, 2009

Spokane Falls Community College Claims Pro-life Speech Against Washington Law; McKenna's Office to Defend College

Not to be believed, but yes, SFCC "threatened Beth Sheeran and members of a Christian student group with disciplinary measures, including expulsion, if they chose to hold a pro-life event on campus to share information with other students because the message was 'discriminatory' and did not include a pro-abortion viewpoint." They were also told it was against Washington law.

Read the whole story from the ADF who is representing the students in their law suit against SFCC.

Here's the offending flyer the pro-life students wanted posted in a display case.

What these pro-life students went through, not only with the school administration but with their faculty advisory is outrageous.

Not only were they told that their "pro-life display was 'offensive' and 'discriminatory,' they were also required to also present the opposite point of view during the event.

But here's another whopper, "Defendant McKenzie (Director of Student Funded Programs at the College) also told SFCF's (Spokane Falls Christian Fellowship) president that Washington is a "pro-choice" state, so SFCF could not use state money for "non-pro-choice" speech events.

And it gets worse, Ms. Kurtz, a professor of English at the College and SFCF faculty advisor, told Ms. Sheeran and SFCF members that the pro-life event violated state law according to Wash. Admin. Code § 132Q-30-242. (Verified Complaint of Plaintiff: pp 10-11) She capped that information off with a lovely, "You don't want to be expelled, do you?"

How did this woman get selected as faculty advisor to a pro-life group?!

According to the student newspaper The Communicator, the CCS (Community Colleges of Spokane) will be represented by Wash. State Attorney General's Office representative, Jerry Cartwright. Yep. That would be Rob "I will defend a woman's right to choose at every opportunity" McKenna's office.

A preliminary hearing has been set for April 29 at 3:00 p.m. at the Federal District Courthouse in Spokane. Sheeran will have the opportunity to present her case at the hearing.

I think I know some pro-lifers who are going to be paying a visit to SFCC in the near future.

Posted by 6p01053614339a970b at March 29, 2009 11:35 PM | Email This

Comments

1. What happened to free speech? This is wholly and completly ridiculous! Those in favor of child-killing would get the moon, if they wanted, at this college.

Posted by: Michele on March 30, 2009 11:42 AM

2. Although I find this behavior outrageous, I would like to point out that Rob McKenna has no choice in the matter; as AG, it is his constitutional duty to provide legal counsel to all state institutions, including community colleges, regardless of his positions on the issues.

Posted by: Common Sense on March 30, 2009 10:59 PM

3. ..and sadly, George "The Killer" Tiller was let off with a total kangaroo court trial that was set up from the beginning by corrupt authorities to keep him from ever getting convicted. Shame.

Posted by: Michele on March 31, 2009 01:48 AM

4. As common sense mentioned, that's the AG's job.

As for SFCC, however, this is frustrating. I hope that justice is served here.

Posted by: Andrew Brown on March 31, 2009 07:47 AM

5. Ah, yes. Poor Rob McKenna. He'd like to do the right thing but he's just doing his job.

Posted by: Mary on April 4, 2009 11:45 PM