Alison Morrow's Fight for Free Speech

Alison Morrow's Lawsuit

Those who are familiar with Human Flourishing may remember Alison Morrow, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, who was the first to interview me after I initiated a lawsuit against the University of California’s vaccine mandate. Unfortunately, YouTube decided to censor this interview, an act of censorship I discussed in a previous post. This censorship, among other instances, was mentioned in my Missouri v. Biden testimony.

Not only was Morrow censored by YouTube (presumably due to pressure from the Federal government), but she was also asked by her then-employer, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, to take down the interview from all other podcast and video platforms where it was posted. Upon her refusal, she was fired by the State, a blatant breach of a government employee's First Amendment rights to free speech. Morrow is now standing up for her rights in court.

Details of Morrow's Case

Reclaim the Net's Dan Frith recently shared some insights into Morrow's case. Alison Morrow, an esteemed journalist, is currently embroiled in a legal dispute over her right to free speech. Represented by the Silent Majority Foundation, Morrow has initiated a lawsuit against the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and its top officials. She claims wrongful termination after being fired for broadcasting an interview on her YouTube channel. The interview, which was part of her personal project during her time as an environmental reporter at KING 5 in Seattle, stirred up controversy due to its feature of a heavily censored doctor, Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, and his views on COVID-19.

A copy of the lawsuit can be found here.

Morrow's Career and the Lawsuit

Morrow's tenure at KING 5 from 2013 to 2019 was marked by noteworthy achievements, including two Emmy awards. Known for her independent journalism, the DNR was fully cognizant of her YouTube activities when they hired her as a communications specialist. Initially, DNR supported her independent media endeavors, but things changed when she decided to feature Dr. Kheriaty. DNR's leadership warned Morrow that her ongoing interviews could result in her termination, a warning she met with a firm refusal to give up her First Amendment rights.

Committed to preserving her rights to free speech, press, and association, Morrow decided to defy DNR's directive to stick to approved narratives. This act of defiance ultimately led to her termination, prompting her to seek legal help from the Silent Majority Foundation, which took up her case to protect these fundamental rights.

Morrow's Statement

"The 1st Amendment is one of the most sacred rights of Americans. It is what sets our country apart from most others, that we have the freedom to question our government. It is also central to a free press. I was willing to lose my job—and all that it provided for our family—in order to stand up against the encroaching erosion of this right that I was witnessing at the time, not just in my case but in thousands of others across the country during the pandemic," Morrow stated. "There was no way to do science or journalism, in the culture of censorship that was driven by our government at the time. That meant millions of people made decisions without informed consent. Given my commitment to seeking truth wherever it leads, I was unwilling to acquiesce to a demand that I remain silent."

Support for Morrow's legal efforts can be provided here, as I have done. It's important to note that a case like this is significant not just for one individual to seek just restitution (a worthy enough cause), but also to establish a legal precedent in court to prevent future instances of the same kinds of harm.

Republished from the author's Substack

Alison Morrow Files Free Speech Lawsuit by Aaron Kheriaty at Brownstone Institute - Daily Economics, Policy, Public Health, Society

Bottom Line

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of free speech, especially in a time when information is so readily available and easily manipulated. It raises the question, how far should we go to protect our right to free speech? What are your thoughts on this matter? Feel free to share this article with your friends and engage in a healthy discussion. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered to your inbox every day at 6pm.