WASHINGTON (AP) — A unanimous Supreme Court docket dominated Monday that Boston violated the free speech rights of a conservative activist when it refused his request to fly a Christian flag on a flagpole outdoors Metropolis Corridor.
Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the court docket that town discriminated in opposition to the activist, Harold Shurtleff, due to his “non secular viewpoint,” though it had routinely permitted functions for the usage of one of many three flagpoles outdoors Metropolis Corridor that fly the U.S., Massachusetts and Boston flags.
Sometimes, town takes down its personal pennant and briefly hoists one other flag.
Shurtleff and his Camp Structure wished to fly a white banner with a pink cross on a blue background within the higher left nook, referred to as the Christian flag.
Breyer stated the case hinged on whether or not the flag-flying is an act of the federal government, by which case Boston can do no matter it needs, or personal events like Shurtleff.
Breyer wrote that “town’s lack of significant involvement within the collection of flags or the crafting of their messages leads us to categorise the flag raisings as personal, not authorities, speech—although nothing prevents Boston from altering its insurance policies going ahead.”
The town has stated that within the occasion of a loss on the Supreme Court docket it most likely will change its coverage to take extra management of what flags can fly.
The case is Shurtleff v. Boston, 20-1800.
