Advancing American Freedom led an amicus brief with 36 other amici in Goldstein v. PSC/CUNY arguing that the right to free association includes the right to fully disassociate from a labor union and thus not to be represented by it. In this case, Jewish professors in the CUNY system are challenging the requirement that they be represented by the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), the mandated labor union for professors at CUNY. The PSC has engaged in anti-Israel and antisemitic speech supporting Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel and accusing Israel of apartheid. Naturally, several Jewish professors object to being represented in their employment negotiations by such a group.
“The ability to associate freely touches every part of political, social, and personal life. Who one marries, goes to church with, and allows to influence one’s children are all associational decisions protected by the First Amendment,” said AAF General Counsel J. Marc Wheat. “The fight of these Jewish professors not to be represented by a group that clearly hates Israel is a fight for the same right we all have to ensure that those around us or who speak on our behalf have our best interest at heart.”
Read the full brief here.
Advancing American Freedom led an amicus brief with 57 other amici in Bryant v. Moore, arguing that states have both the responsibility and the authority to protect the unborn where the federal government fails to do so. North Carolina attempted to do exactly that, but the district court in this case found that federal law, which regulates chemical abortion drugs, preempts state efforts to impose stricter protections for the health of women and the unborn. As we said in our brief to the Fourth Circuit, “Appellants North Carolina House Speaker Timothy K. Moore and North Carolina Senate President pro tempore Philip E. Berger are using their official powers to defend North Carolina’s state law. Unhappily for our system of adversarial representation in court, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has willfully abdicated that responsibility in a shocking failure to carry out his duties . . . When state officials like the Attorney General will not do their job, it is left to others like Advancing American Freedom and amici help fill in the gap.”
“Where the federal government fails to protect the fundamental rights of those within its jurisdiction, states have both the authority and responsibility to do so,” said AAF General Counsel Marc Wheat. “If Congress intends to preempt state law on an issue as controversial and significant as abortion, it must do so clearly so that the courts can assess the legitimacy of that delegation of power. AAF supports North Carolina’s effort to protect the right to life of the most vulnerable people in the state; the unborn.”
Read the full brief here.
Advancing American Freedom today unveiled its grassroots advocacy campaign, designed to educate voters on the issues at stake this fall. The campaign will run through November and highlight the damaging impacts of the progressive governing agenda while promoting the policy solutions that have defined success for the conservative movement in recent years. The campaign will start in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Montana and expand in the months ahead.
“The American people deserve to know the extremes of the far-left’s agenda—and understand exactly what is at stake in this election,” said AAF President Tim Chapman. “While candidates and elected officials run away from their policy positions, Advancing American Freedom is embracing the conservative solutions to issues top of mind for voters around the country. We are running a playbook anchored in fiscal conservatism, limited government, free-market principles, and bold American leadership. Conservative policies are the pathway to prosperity for our country, and our work ensures the American people will be equipped with the resources they need as they prepare to vote this fall.”
