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Edited by: TJVNews.com
A contentious legal battle is brewing in Brooklyn as a group of parents has accused an ultra-liberal parent board and the Department of Education of stifling conservative voices and infringing upon their First Amendment rights. According to a report on Wednesday that appeared in the New York Post, the lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Federal Court on Tuesday night, alleges that the Community Education Council 14 (CEC 14) in the Greenpoint and Williamsburg sections of the borough have implemented draconian speech codes and systematically blocked dissenting voices from public events.
The lawsuit was filed by the Institute for Free Speech, a First Amendment think tank. The plaintiffs, including Deborah Alexander, Maud Maron, and Noah Harlan, assert that the actions of CEC 14 and Chancellor David Banks have curtailed free speech and inhibited open debate, as was reported by the Post. Specifically, the lawsuit claims that individuals perceived to hold conservative viewpoints, including members of the group Moms for Liberty, have been targeted and excluded from participating in public meetings and discussions.
“The First Amendment does not allow New York City’s Department of Education to function as a Department of Conformity,” the lawsuit declares, emphasizing the fundamental importance of protecting free speech and ensuring a diversity of viewpoints within public discourse, the Post report explained. The plaintiffs argue that the alleged censorship and suppression of dissenting voices represents a violation of their constitutional rights and undermine the principles of democracy.
Central to the lawsuit is the demand for a court injunction to dismantle the stranglehold that CEC 14 has imposed on public discourse. The Post reported that the lawsuit said that the plaintiffs seek not only the removal of restrictive speech codes but also nominal damages of $17.91 per plaintiff, in addition to attorney fees.
The lawsuit takes aim at CEC 14 president Tahj Sutton and first vice-president Marissa Manzanares, accusing them of fostering an environment hostile to dissenting opinions. The Post report indicated that the court filings reveal allegations of intolerance towards individuals who hold differing viewpoints, with the plaintiffs contending that Sutton and Manzanares have allowed their personal biases to influence their roles within the parent board.
While the lawsuit acknowledges that holding personal beliefs is not inherently unlawful, it contends that the defendants’ actions have crossed the line by carrying their personal attitudes into positions of authority, according to the information provided in the Post report. By alleging that dissenting voices have been systematically silenced and marginalized, the plaintiffs aim to hold CEC 14 and its leadership accountable for a clear cut infringement on their constitutional rights.
The lawsuit alleges that Sutton and Manzanares have systematically blocked individuals with opposing views from speaking at public council meetings and have even expelled Deborah Alexander in the past. Additionally, the plaintiffs question the competency of Sutton and Manzanares as leaders, citing their treatment of speakers with differing opinions and their refusal to conduct meetings in person, as was detailed in the Post report. By holding virtual sessions, the lawsuit claims, Sutton and Manzanares exert editorial control over attendees, blocking individuals such as Harlan and Alexander from registering for these public meetings.
Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses CEC 14 of espousing a “strongly anti-Israel worldview” and alleges that criticism of the council’s support for an anti-Israel student walkout resulted in members of the public being cut off and expelled from meetings.
