Local Government’s Christmas Policy Parallels Woke Rules Found on College Campuses
December 26, 2022 | Washington
A memo shared by the free speech watchdog, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), reveals that employees of King County, Washington, are advised not to include “religious symbols” in their workspaces.
“Before adding any decorations to your workspace (including your virtual workspace), consider the likely effect of such decorations on all of the employees in and outside of your workgroup,” writes Workforce Equity Manager Gloria Ngezaho in the “Guidelines for Holiday Decorations for King County Employees.”
“Some employees may not share your religion, practice any religion, or share your enthusiasm for holiday decorations,” the memo continues.
FIRE called King County, the home county of Seattle, “this year’s First Amendment Scrooge.”
“King County’s selective targeting of religious views for suppression violates its employees’ First Amendment right to free speech (and likely their right to free exercise of religion, as the First Liberty Institute recently pointed out),” FIRE’s report reads.
First Liberty “is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious liberty” according to its website. In June 2022, the Supreme Court held that a First Liberty client, coach Joe Kennedy, has the right to publicly pray after high school football games.
FIRE Director of Public Advocacy Aaron Terr told Campus Reform that FIRE sent a form to its supporters that asks King County “to respect its employees’ First Amendment rights.” A pre-populated email to Ngezaho and Chief Executive Dow Constantine says, “End this Grinchy tactic for all Who want to celebrate the holidays.”
Ngezaho’s memo told employees that because “King County remains committed to honoring the diversity in its workforce,” employees must keep “crosses,” “stars of David,” and other religious imagery within his or her “personal workspace.” The memo defines “personal workspace” as one “not generally accessible to the public.”
Religious symbols, he writes, “may cause disruption.”…(Excerpt from The Virginia Star)
