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Active U.S. Courts of Appeals

The Frederick Douglass Foundation v. District of Columbia

Summary

The Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America filed a lawsuit against Washington, D.C. after city officials refused to grant permission for the two advocacy groups to paint a pro-life message on a city street shortly after city officials allowed the painting of other messages on a different street. When members of the pro-life groups began to chalk temporary messages on a sidewalk, police arrested them.

Case timeline

  • November 2020: ADF attorneys representing the Frederick Douglass Foundation and SFLA filed a lawsuit against the District.
  • October 2021: ADF attorneys appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit after a lower court dismissed the case.
  • August 2023: The D.C. Circuit Court reversed the lower court’s decision and ruled that the lawsuit could proceed.
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