Federal Court Rules Student Prevented From Sharing Faith on Campus Can Seek Damages

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 last summer that Chike Uzuegbunam could seek nominal damages from Georgia Gwinnett College after violating his First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

Uzuegbunam wanted to share the Gospel with fellow students and hand out pamphlets on campus. He complied with the school’s restrictive policies to reserve a time, have the materials approved, and remain in certain locations limited to 18 hours per week. Once he started speaking, however, campus police approached him, took his ID card, and told him to stop because someone complained.

Uzuegbunam sued Georgia Gwinnett College, seeking an injunction and nominal damages. Afterward, the school changed the policy and claimed the request for an injunction was moot. The school also said that Uzuegbunam and another student who joined the suit didn’t have standing to sue for damages. After losing in lower courts, Uzuegbunam  appealed the high court…. (Excerpts from Black Community News)