Woman's Pro-Life Group Allowed Access to County Community Room

August  25, 2003

Mathew D. Staver

PRO-LIFE WOMEN'S GROUP WILL BE ALLOWED ACCESS TO COUNTY COMMUNITY ROOM FOLLOWING FEDERAL LAWSUIT

WESTCHESTER, NY - Today, in open court, the attorney for the Westchester County Board of Legislators conceded that Regina Riely and her pro-life women's group should be allowed to use the community room to hold a pro-life meeting set for tomorrow, August 26. Liberty Counsel filed suit last week asking a federal judge to issue an immediate Temporary Restraining Order to allow Ms. Riely access to the room in Westchester, NY. Ms. Riely is represented by Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, and by Joel Oster, Litigation Counsel for Liberty Counsel.

The Westchester County Board of Legislators allows use of its facilities, including the legislative chambers, by outside groups. In the past, those facilities have been used by the AFL-CIO Central Labor Body, the Westchester Arts Council, the Westchester Irish Committee, Women of Westchester, National Organization of Women, and the Westchester Coalition for Legalized Abortion for various events. The rooms are highly sought after for use by private groups, including group meetings, rallies, public demonstrations, and award celebrations. As one legislator explained in a letter to Ms. Riely, in the past groups were allowed to use the facilities without regard to the group's position on public issues.

Regina Riely approached the Board in June asking for permission to hold an event on August 26, 2003, honoring a pro-life female doctor from the community. She was met by delays and then told she could not use the room, even though groups advocating abortion had previously used the room. After the suit was filed last week, the court conducted a brief hearing, during which the judge expressed grave concern about Westchester officials denying access for the pro-life meeting. The court scheduled a follow-up hearing today at 10:00 ET, during which the attorney for Westchester County conceded that Ms. Riely could use the meeting room tomorrow. The case will continue to challenge the policy so that it will not be used again to prevent pro-life views.

Mat Staver stated, "I am very pleased that the court moved with great speed to allow our client to use the meeting room tomorrow. When the government opens up its facilities for use by the public, it is constitutionally mandated to treat all people equally without regard to their political or pro-life viewpoints. The notion of equal access is straightforward. Equal means equal. Apparently the word "equal" has disappeared from the vocabulary of advocates of political correctness. The Constitution is for all of us, not just those espousing one viewpoint."

Mathew D. Staver, Esq.
Liberty Counsel
http://www.lc.org.

An Ally of the Alliance Defense Fund