Freedom Updates
Advocates in Action
Victory for Medical and Religious Freedom: CA School District To Pay $375K To Settle Discrimination Lawsuit After Targeting Employee Over COVID-19 Mandates
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, January 6, 2025
CONTACT: Nicole Velasco at
media@faith-freedom.COM
Advocates for Faith & Freedom secured a critical victory for Shawna Velasco, a former employee of the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District (FUESD) in Southern California, who faced discrimination and retaliation under the guise of COVID-19 workplace policies. To settle the lawsuit, FUESD agreed to pay $375,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees. This settlement marks a significant win for individual liberty and accountability in the public education system.
In August 2023, Advocates, on behalf of Ms. Velasco, filed a lawsuit against FUESD for unlawful discrimination. Ms. Velasco, who had a religious exemption from FUESD’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, was singled out and forced to wear a mask at all times, while her co-workers were not required to wear masks or face coverings. After sustaining a severe face and nose injury that left her disabled, Ms. Velasco was unable to comply with the masking requirement. Despite submitting numerous medical notes from her doctor, the District refused to offer her any reasonable accommodations and, instead, punished her by placing her on unpaid leave and eventually terminating her employment.
“Freedom is worth defending. No one should be forced to compromise their sincerely held beliefs or be discriminated against for exercising their rights,” stated Ms. Velasco. “I am deeply grateful to Advocates for Faith & Freedom for standing with me through this journey—their unwavering strength, compassion, and expertise made this victory possible. This win is not just for me; it is for every individual who values liberty and chooses faith and conviction over fear when our freedoms are under attack.”
“This case serves as a clear warning to public school districts and government entities nationwide: violating the rights of employees under arbitrary rules will not be tolerated,” said Advocates attorney, Julianne Fleischer. “Ms. Velasco’s stand in the face of unjust mandates sends a resounding message—freedom in non-negotiable. This settlement is a victory for justice and common sense.”
Advocates for Faith & Freedom remains steadfast in defending individuals against discriminatory mandates and policies in the workplace. This case serves as a reminder that the fight for faith, freedom, and constitutional rights is far from over. By standing firm, Advocates continues to defend religious liberties, ensuring that Americans can live out their faith boldly without fear of persecution or retaliation.
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Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.
Defending Free Speech and Religious Freedom: Advocates for Faith and Freedom Files Friend of the Court Brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Support of Christian Counselor
Today, Advocates for Faith and Freedom, together with North Carolina Values Institute, filed an amicus curiae brief in the Chiles v. Salazar case, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a case which challenges Colorado’s “Censorship Law” for licensed counselors. This law targets faith-based counseling practices by prohibiting speech that aligns with traditional, religious values regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. Yet, the same law allows, and even encourages, conversations that the government favors regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. Such blatant viewpoint discrimination violates the First Amendment’s protections for free speech and religious liberty.
Colorado’s law compels counselors to suppress their deeply held beliefs, forcing faith-based professionals to choose between their livelihoods and their faith. Counseling is a profession that uniquely touches religion. Religion and counseling both involve speech, thoughts, emotions, conduct, conscience, morality, and values. Counselors are not robots, and values cannot be extracted from counseling. Persons who seek counseling are best served by a system that incorporates respect for the values and conscience of both counselor and counselee. Colorado’s unconstitutional law fails to do so.
Advocates for Faith and Freedom is committed to protecting the foundational freedoms of speech and religion, ensuring counselors can serve their clients without compromising their faith. This case represents a critical moment for the Supreme Court to reaffirm constitutional principles and safeguard the rights of people of faith.
Thank you for standing with us as we defend these essential freedoms.
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Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.
Press Release | Charges Against a California Street Pastor Dropped by District Attorney
Press Release | Charges Against a California Street Pastor Dropped by District Attorney
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2024
CONTACT: Nicole Velasco
NVELASCO@FAITH-FREEDOM.COM
Murrieta, CA— In a victory for free speech and religious liberty, the San Bernardino County District Attorney has dismissed all charges against Arturo Fernandez, a California street preacher arrested while peacefully preaching outside a public events arena in Ontario, California. Pastor Fernandez was unlawfully charged with trespassing despite remaining on a public sidewalk, conducting himself lawfully, and exercising his First Amendment rights.
The arrest occurred after a security guard, acting on behalf of a private entity using the city-owned arena, objected to Pastor Fernandez’s preaching and instructed him to leave. When Pastor Fernandez respectfully asserted his constitutional right to free speech on public property, the Ontario Police Department arrested him, booked him into jail, and charged him with trespassing.
Advocates for Faith & Freedom immediately issued demand letters to the Ontario Police Department and to the District Attorney, urging the dismissal of the baseless charge. Following the dismissal of the charge, the arena issued a statement that they “regret the initial issuance of the Citation” against Pastor Fernandez.
“This dismissal is a victory for free speech and religious expression,” said Julianne Fleischer, an attorney with Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “Pastor Fernandez was peacefully exercising his God-given and constitutionally protected rights to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While we have the utmost respect for the men and women in law enforcement, no government entity has the right to silence lawful public preaching.”
This case underscores hostility toward public expressions of faith in America. Advocates for Faith & Freedom remains committed to defending individuals like Pastor Fernandez, ensuring their voices are not silenced in the public square.
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Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.