A Pro-Life Activist Called Abortion Advocacy Groups ‘Criminal Organizations.’ A Texas Court Ruled It Was Protected Speech.

Friday’s Texas Supreme Court decision ruled that comments made by a prolife activist in which he called pro-abortion groups, were illegal. “criminal,” The First Amendment protects speech.

Mark Lee Dickson was director of Right to Life of East Texas, the founder of the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn movement (SCU), and was sued by the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity and the Afiya Centre and the Texas Equal Access Fund in June 2020. “criminal organizations” That “murder innocent unborn children.”

Dickson was sued by the organizations for defamation. However, on Friday, Justice Jane Bland of Texas Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Dickson. Submitted That “the challenged statements are protected opinion about abortion law made in pursuit of changing that law, placing them at the heart of protected speech under the United States and Texas Constitutions.”

Dickson was ruled guilty by the justices “did not urge or threaten violence, nor did he misrepresent the underlying conduct in expressing his opinions about it.” Texas Scorecard reportedHis defamation lawsuits were dismissed. “chill a citizen’s exercise of free speech.”

“I am thankful that the Lilith Fund, which shares a name with a demon that preys on women and children, was not successful in their attempt to stop me from referring to their organization as a criminal organization involved in the murder of innocent children,” Dickson made the statement to The Daily Wire. “I hope the Lilith Fund and the other two abortion assistance groups get out of the baby-murdering business.”

“Abortion is murder, the abortion industry is involved in the murder of innocent children, and we will continue to speak out against these criminal organizations who have a reputation of hurting women and ending the lives of their children,” Dickson also added.

Right To Life of East Texas was established in the very near future. Roe v. Wade Dickson’s SCU movement started in 2019, when he was successful in convincing Waskom, Texas to stop abortion within its limits. This was similar to how some Left-wing cities declared themselves sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

The ordinance, which bans seven pro-abortion providers from operating in Waskom, was unanimously approved by Waskom’s City Council. It also labels them as “criminal organizations.” Texas Scorecard reported that Dickson used this phrase when he posted about the ordinance via social media.

Six additional cities followed Waskom’s lead and the movement grew. The American Civil Liberties Union sued these seven cities in 2020 for discrimination. But the organization dropped the suit after they removed the complaint. “criminal organizations” Language from their ordinances