Pro-life advocate Zack Knotts was arrested for using a megaphone outside an abortion clinic while clinic escorts using similar devices faced no consequences, exposing a shocking case of viewpoint discrimination in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Key Takeaways
- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Cuyahoga Falls’ noise ordinance after pro-life advocate Zack Knotts was arrested for using a megaphone.
- Despite clinic escorts using similar sound devices and making threats, only Knotts was arrested, demonstrating clear viewpoint discrimination.
- Prosecutors dismissed criminal charges against the Knotts family during trial, but the ACLJ continues to fight the unconstitutional ordinance.
- The city ordinance contains vague language and exemptions that favor certain organizations, allowing for arbitrary enforcement against disfavored speech.
- The case highlights a broader pattern of government discrimination against religious and pro-life speech across America.
Targeted Arrest Reveals Anti-Pro-Life Bias
The Knotts family’s peaceful pro-life advocacy outside a Cuyahoga Falls abortion clinic took a disturbing turn when Zack Knotts was singled out for arrest while using a megaphone. According to legal documentation, Knotts’ megaphone was actually quieter than the ambient noise in the area, yet he became the sole target of enforcement while abortion clinic escorts using similar devices to drown out his speech faced no consequences. The arrest was based on a complaint that specifically mentioned only pro-life speech, and arresting officers did not personally witness Knotts using a megaphone before taking action against him.
“The arrest, prosecution, and ongoing threat of future enforcement have already achieved the government’s apparent goal: silencing disfavored speech,” stated the Knotts family, the legal team representing.
Clinic Escorts’ Threatening Behavior Ignored
The discriminatory enforcement of the noise ordinance becomes even more concerning when examining the behavior of abortion clinic escorts. While Knotts was arrested, these escorts not only used sound devices to deliberately drown out pro-life speech but also allegedly made threatening statements. According to court documents, one escort told pro-life advocates to “suck-start a shotgun,” while another ominously stated “We can fix that” in response to pro-life advocacy. When these threats were reported to law enforcement, Sergeant Dobney dismissively claimed it was “not a crime.”
“Suck-start a shotgun,” stated the abortion clinic, according to court filings.
ACLJ Takes Legal Action Against Unconstitutional Ordinance
The ACLJ has filed a comprehensive federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Cuyahoga Falls noise ordinance on multiple grounds. The lawsuit argues that the ordinance is facially invalid under the First Amendment, unconstitutionally vague, and facilitates viewpoint discrimination. The ACLJ is seeking a declaration that the ordinance is unconstitutional, an injunction against future enforcement, compensation for damages suffered by the Knott’s family, the return of Zack’s confiscated megaphone, and attorney’s fees.
“The First Amendment doesn’t guarantee freedom from annoyance or inconvenience – it guarantees freedom of speech, especially for unpopular viewpoints that challenge the status quo. When government officials start deciding which messages deserve protection based on their own preferences, we’re all at risk,” stated the Knotts family, the organization representing.
A Larger Assault on Religious and Pro-Life Speech
The Cuyahoga Falls case represents a troubling pattern of government overreach and viewpoint discrimination against religious and pro-life speech across the nation. The city ordinance creates a discriminatory two-tiered system of speech rights, with exemptions that favor certain organizations while allowing police excessive discretion to silence others. Although prosecutors eventually dismissed the criminal charges against the Knotts family during trial, the damage had already been done through the chilling effect on their constitutional right to free speech.
“This case is part of a larger assault on religious freedom and pro-life speech across America. From college campuses to city sidewalks, government officials are increasingly willing to silence religious viewpoints while protecting secular ones,” stated the ACLJ.
Standing Firm for Constitutional Rights
The ACLJ’s effort to strike down the unconstitutional ordinance continues even after the dismissal of criminal charges, as the organization recognizes that the threat of future enforcement remains. The Supreme Court has consistently affirmed that content-based restrictions on speech are presumptively unconstitutional, yet local governments continue to implement and selectively enforce such restrictions. Through this lawsuit, the ACLJ aims not only to vindicate the rights of the Knotts family but also to establish a precedent that protects the freedom of all Americans to express their views in the public square, regardless of their content or popularity.
