The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) sued the Los Angeles Community College District on Wednesday after a professor censored and threatened to expel a student following a speech about marriage and his Christian faith.
"Public institutions of higher learning cannot selectively censor Christian speech," said David French, senior counsel for ADF. "This student was speaking well within the confines of his professor's assignment."
On Nov. 24, 2008, Los Angeles City College speech professor John Matteson interrupted and ended Jonathan Lopez's presentation mid-speech, calling him a "fascist" for speaking about his faith, which included reading the dictionary definition of marriage and reciting two Bible verses. Matteson told the other students they could leave if they were offended. When no one left, Matteson dismissed the class. Refusing to grade the assigned speech, Matteson wrote on Lopez's evaluation, "Ask God what your grade is."
— Jennifer Mesko
