American Freedom Defense Initiative v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ( 2012 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
)
AMERICAN FREEDOM DEFENSE )
INITIATIVE, et al., )
)
Plaintiffs, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 12-1564 (RMC)
)
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN )
AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
)
OPINION
Plaintiffs contracted with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(“WMATA”) to display an advertisement in four 43 x 62 inch dioramas on subway platforms.
The ads state:
IN ANY WAR BETWEEN THE CIVILIZED MAN AND THE SAVAGE,
SUPPORT THE CIVILIZED MAN.
SUPPORT ISRAEL.
DEFEAT JIHAD.
The ads were to be displayed for approximately one month starting on September 24, 2012.
Before that date, however, an American-made movie trailer that disgraced the Prophet
Mohammad went viral on the Internet and caused large and dangerous anti-American
demonstrations across multiple continents. Advised by the Department of Homeland Security
(“DHS”) to be wary of a risk of violence in the United States and abroad in response to the
1
video, warned by the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) that the Metro subway is a
unique target for terrorist attacks, and knowledgeable about previous threats to the Metro
subway, WMATA advised Plaintiffs that it would postpone display of their ad. Plaintiffs
promptly sued. The matter proceeded to hearing on Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary
injunction on October 4, 2012.1
It cannot be said that WMATA acted unreasonably in considering the degree of
anti-American anger roiling the Muslim world, previous threats to the subway system, the
immediate advice from DHS and TSA, and its paramount responsibility to the safety of its
passengers, when it decided to postpone display of Plaintiffs’ advertisement. In the face of
protected speech, which the Court finds is a combination of political speech in favor of Israel and
hate speech directed to Muslims, WMATA certainly presents a compelling government interest
in the safety of its passengers and employees. However, its concerns – no matter how rational –
were prompted by the content of Plaintiffs’ advertisement. And, even if WMATA’s concerns
were sufficiently compelling to support a content-based restriction on speech, the Court
concludes that WMATA’s failure to consider alternative placements plus the open-ended and
purely subjective duration of its postponement were not narrowly tailored as required.
The Court therefore ordered WMATA to display Plaintiffs’ ad no later than 5
p.m. on Monday, October 8, 2012. See [Dkt. 16]. This Opinion explains its rationale. The
parties have requested that the Court enter a permanent injunction and a final ruling with this
Opinion, which it will do.
1
Plaintiffs initially sought a temporary restraining order but withdrew that petition when
counsels’ schedules would not allow an immediate hearing.
2
I. FACTS
Plaintiff American Freedom Defense Initiative (“AFDI”) is an advocacy
organization whose self-described mission is to “go on the public relations offensive
when . . . actions are taken to dismantle our basic freedoms and values.” Am. Compl. [Dkt. 9]
¶ 7. Plaintiff AFDI purchases advertising space on transit authority property in major cities in
the United States to express its message on Islam, sharia, Israel, and the Middle East. Plaintiff
Pamela Geller is the Executive Director of AFDI, and Plaintiff Robert Spencer is the Associate
Director. Plaintiffs brought this suit against Richard Sarles, the General Manager and Chief
Executive Officer of WMATA.2
Sometime before September 6, 2012, Plaintiffs submitted their advertisement to
WMATA. See Opp’n [Dkt. 13], Ex. H (“AFDI Ad”). The text of the message is emphasized by
the use of white, blue, and red color, in turn, for each sentence. The same ad ran already on
public buses in San Francisco and, after months of litigation, began running in subway stations in
New York City on September 24, 2012. See Am. Freedom Def. Initiative v. Metro. Transp.
Auth., No. 11 Civ. 6774, 2012 WL 2958178 (S.D.N.Y. July 20, 2012). Plaintiffs proposed to
move their messages to Washington, D.C., by displaying the ad on four free-standing dioramas
on WMATA subway platforms. That location provides a venue for large ads that are illuminated
and, therefore, quite prominent. See Opp’n, Ex. I (“Ad Agreement”).
WMATA previously has accepted advertisements on controversial subjects and
does not deny that it is a government actor to which the First Amendment applies. See Opp’n,
Exs. B-G (examples of ads posted in WMATA advertising space covering a wide-range of
2
Established through an Interstate Compact to provide public transportation in the D.C.
metropolitan area, WMATA cannot be sued directly. Having initially brought suit against
WMATA, Plaintiffs amended their Complaint to substitute Mr. Sarles in his official capacity as
the defendant. This Opinion uses “WMATA” to refer to both WMATA and Mr. Sarles.
3
political and public issues). When CBS Outdoor, WMATA’s advertising agency, notified
WMATA of the controversial nature of the ad, WMATA’s Office of General Counsel reviewed
the ad, noted its First Amendment protections, and authorized its display. See Opp’n, Murray
Aff. ¶¶ 7-8. On September 6, 2012, Plaintiffs executed a contract with CBS Outdoor to display
the ads from September 24, 2012 until October 21, 2012. See Ad Agreement. All of this
occurred before violence erupted abroad in response to the American-made amateur movie trailer
(“video”) that depicted the Prophet Mohammad in scandalous ways.
The 14-minute video provoked anti-American demonstrations from Africa to the
Middle East and Indonesia and, notably, appeared to have provided cover for a terrorist attack on
the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012, that took the lives of four
Americans, including the Ambassador.3 In light of these escalating events, WMATA evaluated
the safety risks of running the ad. WMATA contacted TSA, which expressed its concern about
running the ad at the scheduled time because the D.C. Metro could become an even greater target
for terrorist attacks given recent world events. See Opp’n, Taborn Aff. ¶ 8 (“The TSA Officials
were concerned that WMATA’s Metrorail system is a unique target because of its close
association with the federal government, both because so many stations are located adjacent to
landmark federal facilities and because the Metrorail system carries such a high percentage of the
federal workforce resident in this area to work on a daily basis.”). WMATA also received an
official federal communique issued by DHS warning of the risk of violence in the United States
and abroad in response to the video. See Opp’n, Ex. K (“Fed. Communique (Under Seal)”).
WMATA decided to delay posting the ad due to these security concerns.
3
When first reported, the U.S. State Department attributed the attack in Benghazi entirely to the
movie trailer, not terrorists – as with an earlier attack on the same day on the embassy in Egypt.
4
Plaintiffs received an email on September 18, 2012, from CBS Outdoor stating
that “due to the situations happening around the world at this time,” the posting of the ads would
be postponed until “a future date to be determined.” See Opp’n, Ex. M (“Marcus Email”).
Plaintiffs demanded that WMATA run the ads but CBS Outdoor confirmed, “Metro is not
refusing to run the ad, they are merely deferring it due to world events and a concern for the
security of their passengers.” See id. The Court finds that as of September 18, when WMATA
notified Plaintiffs’ of the postponement of their ad, the scope and duration of the escalating anti-
American demonstrations were very unclear. Additionally, shortly after WMATA postponed
Plaintiffs’ ad, it received an email threatening damage to Metro property and disruption to train
and bus routes if the ad were displayed. See Opp’n, Ex. L (“Threat”).
Plaintiffs alleged that WMATA deprived them of their right to engage in
protected speech in a public forum in violation of the First Amendment.4 Plaintiffs asserted that
the decision to postpone display of the ad was content-based and failed to satisfy strict
constitutional scrutiny.5 The Court granted Plaintiffs’ motion on October 5 and ordered
WMATA to post Plaintiffs’ ads no later than 5 p.m. on October 8, 2012.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
A district court may grant a preliminary injunction “to preserve the relative
positions of the parties until a trial on the merits can be held.” Univ. Of Tex. v. Camenisch, 451
4
The Complaint also alleges a violation of Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights to equal protection of
the laws but their motion and argument focused entirely on the alleged First Amendment
violation.
5
The Complaint contends that WMATA’s restriction was also viewpoint-based but because the
Court concludes that the restriction on the ad is based on its subject matter, it need not reach the
issue of viewpoint discrimination. See Carey v. Brown, 447 U.S. 455, 462 n.6 (1980) (“The First
Amendment's hostility to content-based regulation extends not only to restrictions on particular
viewpoints, but also to prohibition of public discussion of an entire topic.” (internal quotation
marks and citation omitted)).
5
U.S. 390, 395 (1981). An injunction is an equitable remedy so its issuance is one which falls
within the sound discretion of the district court. See Hecht Co. v. Bowles, 321 U.S. 321, 329
(1944). A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must establish that:
(a) he is likely to succeed on the merits;
(b) he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of
preliminary relief;
(c) the balance of equities tips in his favor; and
(d) an injunction is in the public interest.
Winter v. NRDC, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008). The D.C. Circuit has further instructed that “the
movant has the burden to show that all four factors . . . weigh in favor of the injunction.” Davis
v. Pension Benefit Guar. Corp., 571 F.3d 1288, 1292 (D.C. Cir. 2009).
In the past, courts have balanced the four factors on a “sliding scale,” i.e., a lesser
showing on one factor could be surmounted by a greater showing on another factor. CSX
Transp., Inc. v. Williams, 406 F.3d 667, 670 (D.C. Cir. 2005). Winter called this approach into
question: “[i]ssuing a preliminary injunction based only on a possibility of irreparable harm
[despite a strong likelihood of success on the merits] is inconsistent with our characterization of
injunctive relief as an extraordinary remedy that may only be awarded upon a clear showing that
the plaintiff is entitled to such relief.” Winter, 555 U.S. at 22 (emphasis added). The D.C.
Circuit has interpreted Winter to require a positive showing on all four preliminary injunction
factors. See Davis, 571 F.3d at 1296 (Kavanaugh, J., concurring).
III. ANALYSIS
A. Likelihood of Success on the Merits
Plaintiffs claimed that WMATA’s decision to delay posting Plaintiffs’ ad
restricted their speech based on its content in violation of the First Amendment. WMATA
6
responded that Plaintiffs’ ad is not protected by the First Amendment because it constitutes
“fighting words.” In the alternative, WMATA argued that if Plaintiffs’ ad is protected speech, its
restriction was content-neutral and a reasonable time, place, and manner restriction. To
determine Plaintiffs’ likelihood of success on the merits, the Court must consider: (1) whether
Plaintiffs’ ad is speech protected by the First Amendment, (2) whether the forum is public or
nonpublic, and (3) whether the justifications for the restriction satisfy the requisite standard. See
Cornelius v. NAACP Legal Def. & Educ. Fund, Inc., 473 U.S. 788, 797 (1985). Since WMATA
conceded that it provides a public forum for advertising, the Court considers that aspect of the
standard satisfied.6
1. Plaintiffs’ Ad Is Protected Speech
Plaintiffs’ ad contains elements of both political and hate speech. The phrase
“Support Israel” certainly sends a political message. The remainder of the ad, however, sends an
anti-Muslim message, as it equates all Muslims with “savages.”7 It is unnecessary to decide
whether the advertisement is predominantly one type of speech or the other, because on these
facts, the First Amendment protects speech from government intrusion in either case. While
6
When a state actor opens public property for “expressive activity,” “it is bound by the same
standards as apply in a traditional public forum.” Perry Educ. Ass’n v. Perry Local Educators’
Ass’n, 460 U.S. 37, 45-46 (1983). “[A] content-based prohibition must be narrowly drawn to
effectuate a compelling state interest.” Id. at 46. Having opened public property for such
activity, a state actor remains free to end its open character if it chooses to do so. Id. The D.C.
Circuit has previously held that “there [is no] question that WMATA has converted its subway
stations into public fora by accepting other political advertising.” Lebron v. WMATA, 749 F.2d
893, 896 (D.C. Cir. 1984).
7
In court, Plaintiffs’ counsel attempted to limit the ad to “savage” terrorist attacks. Such a
limitation does not reflect the ad’s anti-Muslim message that sweeps widely.
7
political speech receives the highest form of protection under the First Amendment,8 hate speech
also can receive First Amendment protections. See R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, 505 U.S. 377, 396
(1992) (“Let there be no mistake about our belief that burning a cross in someone's front yard is
reprehensible. But St. Paul has sufficient means at its disposal to prevent such behavior without
adding the First Amendment to the fire.”); Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444, 448-49 (1969)
(per curiam) (protecting racist speech that constituted “mere advocacy not distinguished from
incitement to imminent lawless action” (emphasis added)). Additionally, WMATA imposed a
prior restraint because it prevented Plaintiffs from displaying their ad in WMATA stations; a
prior restraint “bear[s] a heavy presumption against its constitutional validity.” Bantam Books,
Inc. v. Sullivan, 372 U.S. 58, 70 (1963); see also Lebron, 749 F.2d at 896 (“Because WMATA, a
government agency, tried to prevent Mr. Lebron from exhibiting his poster in advance of actual
expression, WMATA’s action can be characterized as a ‘prior restraint . . . .’” (internal
quotation marks and citations omitted)).
WMATA asserted that Plaintiffs’ ad constitutes “fighting words” and therefore
falls in an unprotected category of speech. Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568 (1942),
carved out “fighting words” as a category of speech unprotected by the First Amendment.9
Fighting words include “the insulting or ‘fighting’ words – those which by their very utterance
8
See Connick v. Myers, 461 U.S. 138, 145 (1983) (“[S]peech on public issues occupies the
‘highest rung of the hierarchy of First Amendment values,’ and is entitled to special protection.”)
(quoting NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co., 458 U.S. 886, 913 (1982)); Lebron, 749 F.2d at
896 (D.C. Cir. 1984) (affording First Amendment protections to an ad critical of the Reagan
administration).
9
The words in question in Chaplinsky were uttered on the public street “with force and arms . . .
addressed to the complainant . . . ‘You are a God damned racketeer’ and ‘a damned Fascist and
the whole government of Rochester are Fascists or agents of Fascists.’” Chaplinsky, 315 U.S. at
569 (internal quotation marks omitted).
8
inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace.” Id. at 572. Chaplinksy
addressed a state law that the New Hampshire Supreme Court had limited by interpretation to
“do[] no more than prohibit the face-to-face words plainly likely to cause a breach of the peace
by the addressee, words whose speaking constitute a breach of the peace by the speaker.” Id. at
573. Since Chaplinsky, the Court has further narrowed the nature of unprotected “fighting
words” to speech that is “directed to the person of the hearer” and likely to evoke a violent
response. Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15, 20 (1971) (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted);10 see also Madsen v. Women’s Health Ctr., Inc., 512 U.S. 753, 774 (1994) (holding
that “[a]bsent evidence that the [antiabortion] protesters’ speech is independently proscribable
(i.e., ‘fighting words’ or threats), or is so infused with violence as to be indistinguishable from a
threat of physical harm,” a ban on all uninvited approaches to persons coming to a clinic could
not stand (citation omitted)). As a message communicated in advertising space, Plaintiffs’
speech does not meet the Court’s description of this category of unprotected speech.
2. WMATA’s Restriction Fails to Meet Strict Scrutiny
The analysis of a restriction on speech in a public forum depends, in the first
instance, on whether the restriction is based on the message itself (“content-based”) or based on a
concern that exists irrespective of the message (“content-neutral”). A content-based restriction
must meet strict constitutional scrutiny to stand, i.e., the restriction must be “necessary to serve a
compelling state interest . . . [and be] narrowly drawn to achieve that end.” Perry, 460 U.S. at
45. In contrast, reasonable time, place, or manner restrictions on expression can be imposed
10
Although the Supreme Court has never overruled Chaplinksy, it has not upheld a fighting
words conviction since that decision. See Erwin Chemerinsky, Constitutional Law 1002 (3d ed.
2006). The Court has either found laws prohibiting fighting words to be unconstitutionally
vague or overbroad or in the case of laws prohibiting some fighting words, has invalidated them
as impermissible content-based restrictions of speech. Id.9
when a restriction is content-neutral, provided that any restriction is narrowly tailored to serve a
significant government interest and leaves open ample alternative channels for communication.
Id.; see also Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 791 (1989). The parties disputed
whether the restriction in this case was content-based or content-neutral.
Plaintiffs contended that WMATA restricted their speech “based on the subjective
belief that others might object to Plaintiffs’ message” and thereby acted purely because of its
message. Pls.’ Mot. for Prelim. Inj. [Dkt. 2] at 11. There is no doubt that content-based
restrictions can rarely pass constitutional review although the language of the Supreme Court has
varied over time from flat-out prohibition to a presumption against restriction and a recognition
that some government interests may presumably be “sufficiently ‘compelling’ to support a
content-based restriction on speech.” Boos v. Barry, 485 U.S. 312, 324 (1988). Compare Police
Dep’t of Chicago v. Mosley, 408 U.S. 92, 95 (1972) ( “[A]bove all else, the First Amendment
means that government has no power to restrict expression because of its message, its ideas, its
subject matter, or its content”), with R.A.V., 505 U.S. at 382 (“Content-based regulations are
presumptively invalid.”). Further, when a restriction on speech is content-based, the burden is on
the government to prove that the restriction is the least restrictive alternative to achieve its
compelling interest. See Ashcroft v. Am. Civil Liberties Union, 542 U.S. 656, 665-68 (2004)
(finding that filtering software would be less restrictive and possibly more effective than barriers
to adult free speech imposed by the Child Online Protection Act that sought to regulate the
Internet). Neither party points to a case concerning a content-based restriction where the
Supreme Court concluded that the government had a compelling interest and the restriction
could be approved because it was sufficiently narrowly tailored.
10
WMATA claimed that its delay of Plaintiffs’ ads was content-neutral, based on
“situations happening around the world at this time” and “due to world events and a concern for
the security of their passengers,” without regard to the content of the ads. The argument
misreads the Supreme Court’s definition of a content-neutral restriction. In City of Renton v.
Playtime Theatres, Inc., 475 U.S. 41 (1986), the Court described “‘content-neutral’ speech
regulations as those that ‘are justified without reference to the content of the regulated speech.’”
Id. at 48 (citation omitted). In Renton, the Court concluded that a regulation on the location of
adult motion picture theaters was content-neutral because it was aimed at the secondary effects
of such theaters – specifically to “prevent crime, protect the city’s retail trade, maintain property
values, and generally [protect and preserve neighborhoods]” – and was neutral to the content of
the films themselves. Id. at 48. In the instant situation, WMATA had rational concerns
associated with displaying Plaintiffs’ ads because their content could add fuel to escalating anti-
American and terrorist activities, thus endangering the Metro system and its passengers. The
direct connection between the content of Plaintiffs’ ad and WMATA’s fears of an attack on the
subway is clearly demonstrated by WMATA’s earlier recognition of the First Amendment
protections at issue when its General Counsel authorized posting the ads. See Boos, 485 U.S. at
321 (concluding that a D.C. statute’s restriction on speech was content-based because the
“justification focuses only on the content of the speech and the direct impact that speech has on
its listeners”); see also Madsen, 512 U.S. at 763 (“Our principal inquiry in determining content
neutrality is whether the government has adopted a regulation of speech ‘without reference to the
content of the regulated speech.’” (quoting Ward, 491 U.S. at 791)).
WMATA argued that Madsen shows that a restriction can be “content-neutral”
even when it is necessary to ascertain the content of a communication in order to enforce a court
11
order. Madsen challenged a court injunction which placed time, place, and manner restrictions
on demonstrations by antiabortion protesters outside a health clinic that performed abortions.
“[T]he state court imposed restrictions on petitioners incidental to their antiabortion message
because they repeatedly violated the court’s original order,” id. at 763, which had enjoined
blocking public access to the clinic or physically abusing persons entering or leaving the clinic.
Id. at 758. The broadened injunction under review by the Supreme Court addressed petitioners’
actions and only incidentally their speech. Thus, Madsen is distinguishable from WMATA’s
prior restriction on speech.
Because the delay in displaying Plaintiffs’ ad constituted a content-based
restriction, WMATA must demonstrate that it was “necessary to serve a compelling state
interest and . . . narrowly drawn to achieve that end.” Perry, 460 U.S. at 45; see also Boos, 485
U.S. at 321. In this regard, WMATA bears the same burden of proof that would apply at trial.
Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal, 546 U.S. 418, 429 (2006). (“[T]he
burdens at the preliminary injunction stage track the burdens at trial.”). Accordingly, WMATA
must establish that its content-based restriction meets strict scrutiny. See Ashcroft, 542 U.S. at
666.
WMATA posited the safety of its passengers and its employees as the compelling
interest which justifies its temporary restriction on Plaintiffs’ speech. Specifically, WMATA
cited two ways in which the ad could threaten public safety: (1) inter-passenger disputes on
subway platforms that could result in passengers falling into the tracks or (2) a terrorist attack.
Neither of these concerns is directly based on the potential offense felt by a viewer of the ad but,
instead, is based on the consequences to the subway system that might occur as a result of that
offense. Without disagreement from Plaintiffs, WMATA noted that “[t]he Metrorail system is
12
an extremely porous system, with multiple entry points, many of which are unmonitored for
periods of time throughout the hours of revenue service.” See Taborn Aff. ¶ 7. Additionally, “its
close association with the federal government” makes it a “unique target” for terrorist attacks.
Id. ¶ 8. And, while Plaintiffs denigrated the seriousness of such warnings, there is no dispute
that WMATA received notice from DHS to be wary of anti-American violence in the United
States because of the video and that TSA expressed concern regarding posting Plaintiffs’ ad on
September 24 as scheduled.
Given the above, the Court easily concludes that WMATA’s concern for the
safety of its passengers and employees constituted a compelling government interest. Thus, it
becomes necessary to address the last element of the analysis and determine whether WMATA’s
chosen restriction was narrowly drawn to serve this interest. Perry, 460 U.S. at 45. “[T]he
restriction must be the ‘least restrictive means among available, effective alternatives.’” United
States v. Alvarez, 132 S. Ct. 2537, 2551 (2012) (quoting Ashcroft, 542 U.S. at 666). “The First
Amendment requires that the Government’s chosen restriction on the speech at issue be ‘actually
necessary’ to achieve its interest.” Id. at 2549 (citation omitted). WMATA argued that “[t]here
[were] no less restrictive content-neutral means to prevent the AFDI Ad from inciting violence
and endangering the public.” Opp’n at 33. The Court disagrees.
WMATA’s concern for passenger safety from inter-passenger disputes recognized
the risk that passengers on its subway platforms could fall down into the energized tracks.
However, it could serve its compelling interest in the safety of passengers on subway platforms
by placing Plaintiffs’ ads elsewhere. While, indeed, the contract was for advertising in the
illuminated dioramas on subway platforms, a content-neutral and less restrictive answer to
13
concerns about disputes on the platforms would surely have been to put the ads elsewhere in one
of WMATA’s numerous other advertising venues.
Not insensibly, WMATA noted that its second compelling interest lay in
protecting the Metro system generally and its concerns with Plaintiffs’ ads extended to the entire
system. But WMATA’s approach to addressing this concern, albeit compelling, failed to be
narrowly drawn. WMATA could have decided to distance itself from Plaintiffs’ sentiments with
accompanying statements and/or advertisements which conveyed its disagreement and explained
its constitutional obligations. Most particularly, WMATA provided no sensible timeframe after
which the delay would expire. Initially, WMATA told Plaintiffs that their ads would be
postponed until “a future date to be determined.” In its papers in court, WMATA modified its
position and promised to conduct a reassessment and “run the advertisement beginning on
November 1, unless the reassessment demonstrates a verified likelihood of an attack against
United States transit systems relating to the video.” Tabborn Aff. ¶ 11. Such an open-ended and
subjective standard for the delay of Plaintiffs’ ad was not the least restrictive means of serving
WMATA’s compelling interest.
The First Amendment protects obnoxious and offensive speech; some might say
that the Amendment’s protections are needed more strongly for such speech than otherwise. See
Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46, 55 (1988) (“[T]he fact that society may find
speech offensive is not a sufficient reason for suppressing it. Indeed, if it is the speaker’s
opinion that gives offense, that consequence is a reason for according it constitutional
protection.” (alteration in original) (internal quotation mark and citation omitted)). WMATA,
however, could rest on its compelling safety concerns to limit these protections but only to
restrict Plaintiffs’ speech in the least degree necessary to achieve its purpose. Daily verification
14
through federal government sources of the nature and imminence of any threat would have
assured a delay no longer than truly necessary. In its original form, WMATA assumed the
unilateral right to decide how much interference it could impose on Plaintiffs’ First Amendment
rights. In its modified form, WMATA set a comfortable but arbitrary timeline, not tied to the
waxing or waning of anti-American sentiment or danger and not based on any objective
evaluation of necessity. See Ashcroft, 542 U.S. at 666 (“The purpose of the test is to ensure that
speech is restricted no further than necessary to achieve the goal, for it is important to ensure that
legitimate speech is not chilled or punished.”).
Although WMATA has provided the Court with a compelling interest in public
safety under the circumstances, it has not used the least restrictive means of serving this interest.
Plaintiffs are therefore likely to succeed on the merits of their claim.
B. Irreparable Harm
Plaintiffs cite Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347 (1976) (plurality opinion), and simply
claim victory. Elrod proclaimed that “[t]he loss of First Amendment freedoms, for even minimal
periods of time, unquestionably constitutes irreparable injury.” Id. at 373 (Brennan, J.).
[The D.C. Circuit] has construed Elrod to require movants to do
more than merely allege a violation of freedom of expression in
order to satisfy the irreparable injury prong . . . moving parties
must also establish they are or will be engaging in constitutionally
protected behavior to demonstrate that the allegedly impermissible
government action would chill allowable individual conduct.
Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches v. England, 454 F.3d 290, 301 (D.C. Cir. 2006). Whether
the plurality opinion in Elrod would find close adherents on the Court today, in light of the more
recent caselaw cited above, is unclear. See, e.g., Alvarez, 132 S. Ct. at 2549 (a restriction on
speech that is “actually necessary” and relies on “a direct causal link between the restriction
imposed and the injury to be prevented” might be approved); id. at 2556-57 (Alito, J., dissenting)
15
(“The statute reaches only knowingly false statements about hard facts directly within a
speaker’s personal knowledge. These lies have no value in and of themselves, and proscribing
them does not chill any valuable speech.”).
Regardless, Plaintiffs have demonstrated that their “First Amendment interests
[were] either threatened or in fact being impaired at the time relief [was] sought.” Nat’l Treas.
Emps. Union v. United States, 927 F.2d 1253, 1254-55 (D.C. Cir. 1991) (internal quotation
marks and citation omitted); see also England, 454 F.3d at 301 (“Where a plaintiff alleges injury
from a rule or regulation that directly limits speech, the irreparable nature of the harm may be
presumed.”) (quoting Bronx Household of Faith v. Bd. of Educ., 331 F.3d 342, 349-50 (2d Cir.
2003)). Because the Court concludes that WMATA did not fashion its restriction narrowly to
serve its compelling interest as actually necessary, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have
shown irreparable harm that supports the injunction they seek.
C. Balance of the Equities & the Public Interest
Plaintiffs argued that WMATA would suffer no harm if the Court granted the
preliminary injunction because Plaintiffs’ exercise of their constitutional rights could not harm
WMATA’s interests. As to the public interest, Plaintiffs glibly stated that “it is always in the
public interest to prevent the violation of a party’s constitutional rights.” Pls.’ Mot. at 15-16
(quoting G & V Lounge, Inc. v. Mich. Liquor Control Comm’n, 23 F.3d 1071, 1079 (6th Cir.
1994)). The public in Washington, D.C., that rides the subway daily might not be so easily
persuaded. WMATA presented a compelling concern for the safety of its passengers and its
system, from individual disputes with calamitous consequences to a terrorist attack. But its
means to protect this interest were not the least restrictive necessary to achieve the goal. The
Court must balance Plaintiffs’ First Amendment right with WMATA’s concern for a possible
16
threat to public safety. “To assess speech in a public forum some balancing may be necessary,
but ‘the thumb of the [c]ourt [should] be on the speech side of the scales.’” Lebron, 749 F.2d at
898 (alterations in original) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Under the facts
before the Court, Plaintiffs’ First Amendment right prevails.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated, the Court granted Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary
Injunction [Dkt. 2] on October 5, 2012. See [Dkt. 16]. At the parties’ request, the Court will
grant the Joint Motion for Permanent Injunction and Final Ruling on the Merits [Dkt. 17];
therefore Plaintiffs have waived their equal protection claim.
Date: October 12, 2012 /s/
ROSEMARY M. COLLYER
United States District Judge
17