Judge Denies Request to Pray at Kerry’s Boston Townhome
BOSTON, MA — Federal Judge Nathaniel Groton denied a request Monday by Operation Rescue West and other pro-life groups to reinstate a permit granted by the City of Boston for the groups to pray and lay roses in front of the home of Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry.
The permit for the prayer vigil had been revoked by the Secret Service just days before the vigil was to take place.
Judge Groton agreed in principle with ORW attorney Brain Chavez-Ochoa that the Secret Service was indeed restricting ORW’s Constitutional Rights based on the content of their message, but insisted that “security” concerns trumps the First Amendment.
“Security simply is being used as an excuse to censor our message,” said ORW President Troy Newman. “The second victim of 9-11 is the First Amendment.”
