Food Blog: Arrested for a sweatshirt

Friday, May 23, 2025

Arrested for a sweatshirt

Dear Friend,

What just happened outside a Massachusetts courthouse should concern every American.

One of our clients, Erica Walsh, was arrested — for peacefully wearing a sweatshirt while standing on a public sidewalk.

She wasn’t blocking doors. She wasn’t shouting. She wasn’t breaking the law.

She stood silently near the Norfolk Superior Courthouse — where public attention is currently focused due to the ongoing Karen Read trial — on a sidewalk that a federal court has ruled protesters have a constitutional right to be.

But Massachusetts State Police arrested her anyway.

I’m Mark Trammell, CEO of the Center for American Liberty, and we’re stepping in to make sure the state doesn’t get away with it.

Just days before Erica’s arrest, another one of our clients, Jason Grant, was blocked from the very same area simply for holding a sign with a Bible verse.

This is not an isolated incident. This is a pattern.

State officials are targeting peaceful Americans for expressing viewpoints state officials don’t like — even after a federal appellate court said they have every right to be there.

We’ve already won a major court victory affirming the First Amendment in this case. But now, Massachusetts officials are ignoring the ruling — and doubling down on their crackdown.

We’re taking them back to court. And we need your help.

Will you make a tax-deductible donation to help us defend Erica, hold the state accountable, and protect the First Amendment for all Americans?

Your support will help us:

Defend Erica and Jason in court
Enforce the federal ruling protecting peaceful protest
Send a message that constitutional rights don’t disappear when the government finds them inconvenient

At the Center for American Liberty, we fight every day to protect Americans from government overreach, ideological intimidation, and unlawful censorship.

But we don’t take government money. We rely entirely on the support of people like you.

If you believe in the Constitution — if you believe in standing up when others are silenced — please join us.

Because if we don’t hold the line here, the government will keep pushing further.

Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely,

Mark Trammell

CEO, Center for American Liberty

P.S. We’ve already won one court victory in this case. Now it’s time to enforce it — and defend the rights of peaceful Americans like Erica and Jason. Your donation today will help us fight back.

DONATE