ACLJ Secures IMMEDIATE WIN as Judge DISMISSES Charges Against Preacher in NYC

Because of your continued support, we are suing the city of Chicago for its ridiculous and unconstitutional policy of targeting public preachers. These young evangelists were unfairly targeted and prosecuted for nothing more than sharing the Gospel.

One of those young men, Perez Ndi, has been continuing to share his faith across America. He went to New York City to preach near Broadway and share the Gospel. Yet again, U.S. cities have shown contempt for the First Amendment, especially when it comes to people of faith and evangelists. Police approached Perez, demanding to see a permit. Perez tried to speak with the officers and despite not resisting, he was put in handcuffs and charged. His alleged offense? Preaching without a permit. You would think that New York City had enough to deal with, but apparently, this young man preaching on the street warranted a police response.

Earlier, the ACLJ warned you that there has been a “troubling pattern of targeted enforcement against Christians – and preachers in particular – exercising their First Amendment rights.” As if to prove our point, New York City joined Chicago in cities that are bullying evangelists out of the public square. Unfortunately for these far-Left cities, the Constitution and Bill of Rights protect this activity. The Supreme Court has consistently ruled that any law “subjecting the exercise of First Amendment freedoms to the prior restraint of a license, without a narrow, objective, and definite standards to guide the licensing authority, is unconstitutional.” That’s a high standard, and the ACLJ held the government to it.

Outraged by this unjust citation in New York City, we took immediate action, which was made possible only through the steadfast prayers and support of ACLJ members across the country. We showed up to the New York City court, where our legal team represented Perez, vigorously defending his right to freely speak and worship in public spaces. Persuaded by common sense and the Constitution, the judge agreed.

Before Perez could even be arraigned, the judge recognized that the citation was legally insufficient and dismissed the case outright. This is more than a procedural victory: It is a powerful affirmation of the First Amendment and a resounding victory not just for Perez, but also for all Americans who cherish their religious liberty.

New York is no stranger to First Amendment infringements. Indeed, it is steeped in First Amendment legal history. In Gitlow v. New York, the Supreme Court first recognized that the First Amendment applied to state governments when New York prosecuted a man for handing out political booklets. New York lost again in Saia v. New York, where the Supreme Court held that using amplification was protected under the First Amendment, noting that “[l]oudspeakers are today indispensable instruments of effective public speech.” The famous case of Simon & Schuster, Inc. v. New York State Crime Victims Board was another loss for New York, as the state attempted to limit book publishing rights of convicts.

But this battle is far from over. From Manhattan sidewalks to Chicago clinics, attacks on faith and free speech are escalating nationwide. With your support, the ACLJ will continue to confront these abuses head-on – whether in New York; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Chicago; or the next city that crosses the constitutional line. Together, we will hold the government accountable, defend the Gospel, and preserve liberty for the next generation. Government officials are increasingly abusing regulatory tools to chill disfavored viewpoints, especially those rooted in biblical truth.

That’s why I’m asking you to join the thousands of ACLJ members who make this fight possible. The government must be held accountable. Yes, that means at the Supreme Court, but it also means targeted misdemeanor tickets and spurious noise violations that can – and do – happen anywhere. These cases matter, and the victories are sending a clear message to cities across the U.S. Help us fight for religious liberty so we can take the call every time, in every courtroom, until justice prevails.