Constitution protects Jack Phillips' rights

Article subtitle: 
The flip side to the right to expression is the right to be silent. The government cannot coerce individuals into advocating beliefs contrary to their own.
Article author: 
Krista Kafer
Article date: 
30 June 2024
Article category: 
Colorado News
Medium
Article Body: 

... The First Amendment prevents Congress from making laws that abridge the right to free expression and free exercise of religion and thanks to the 14th Amendment, state and local governments, cannot make such laws either.

The flip side to the right to expression is the right to be silent. The government cannot coerce individuals into advocating beliefs contrary to their own...

Last year’s Supreme Court decision 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis affirmed that right. It said the state cannot coerce individuals into advocating for ideas with which they disagree even at their place of business...

The government cannot force an atheist to wear a hijab, a musician to play the communist Internationale, or a Kosher deli to serve a ham sandwich. Likewise, it cannot force a baker to make a blue and pink cake for a gender transition celebration. The baker has the right not to advocate...

The state on its own or at the behest of an individual cannot under the Constitution deny individuals the right to advocate or the right not to advocate by word or by symbol. The Colorado court can spare the taxpayer another trip to D.C. by affirming it.