Windy City Victory: ACLJ Secures Major Win as Court Rejects Chicago’s Attempt To Dismiss Lawsuit Against Unlawful Arrests of Christian Preachers

Today, we are thrilled to announce a significant victory in our federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Chicago on behalf of three courageous young Christian street preachers – Brett Raio, Perez Ndi, and Reetik Dhamala. As we’ve chronicled in our ongoing coverage, these faithful men were targeted and arrested simply for sharing the Good News in a public space near Millennium Park. But God is faithful, and the Constitution is on our side. The court has just ruled on the city’s Motion to Dismiss – allowing the core of our case to move forward to discovery.

This ruling is not just a legal milestone; it’s a beacon of hope for every believer who dares to live out Matthew 28:19–20, going into all the world to make disciples. It underscores the ACLJ’s relentless commitment to fighting for our members and supporters like you, who stand with us in defending the Gospel against government overreach. As Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow often says, “When the government tries to silence the Church, we stand in the gap – and we win.”

Take action with us as this fight moves forward. Add your name to the petition: Defeat the Left’s War Against Pastors.

Recapping the Battle for Free Speech in Chicago

For those following our previous reports, this saga began when Brett Raio was arrested for preaching with a small amplifier, a clear violation of his First Amendment rights. As detailed in our initial post, we swiftly intervened with video evidence, leading to the charges being dismissed before trial. Yet the city’s hostility toward religious expression didn’t end there. Just days later, Perez Ndi and Reetik Dhamala were arrested in the same location under similar pretexts, spending over seven hours in jail for nothing more than evangelizing. Eventually, we prevailed in their case too, ensuring that none of these men would face unconstitutional persecution for the First Amendment-protected activity.

Ultimately, this pattern of harassment compelled us to take action. Determined to halt this unconstitutional crackdown, the ACLJ filed a comprehensive federal lawsuit last year, seeking damages and a permanent injunction to stop this unjust practice. Chicago, predictably, fought back with a Motion to Dismiss, attempting to evade accountability by claiming these were isolated incidents unworthy of federal scrutiny. We exposed their tactics in our August 2025 update, “Chicago Tries To Hide From ACLJ Lawsuit,” where we detailed our forceful opposition, arguing that the city’s actions represented a deliberate policy of suppressing Christian evangelism.

The Court’s Ruling: A Resounding Affirmation of Religious Liberty

In a decision handed down yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois preserved our lawsuit, rejecting the city’s attempt to dismiss our claims of free speech suppression, religious suppression, retaliation, false arrest, and more. Our key argument may now proceed for further litigation; this means discovery can now begin, where we’ll uncover more evidence of the city’s discriminatory practices and hold them accountable.

This outcome echoes the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark rulings in cases like Cantwell v. Connecticut and Kunz v. New York, the Court has consistently protected the rights of religious preachers to evangelize on public streets without a permit, without fear of meritless “breach of the peace” or noise violations, and affirming that the government cannot arbitrarily restrict religious speech in public forums. Just as the Court in those cases safeguarded the free exercise of religion and free speech against overbroad state interference, our case in Chicago builds on that foundation, ensuring that street preachers like Brett, Perez, and Reetik can proclaim the Gospel without fear of selective enforcement or reprisal.

The Bigger Picture: ACLJ’s Unwavering Fight for You and the Gospel

This victory is part of a broader narrative at the ACLJ – one where we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our members to defend “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). From battling abortion mandates to protecting pro-life counselors outside clinics, and from international advocacy for persecuted Christians to domestic fights like this one, the ACLJ is your voice in the courts and halls of power. Our successes are fueled by the prayers and support of faithful members like you, who enable us to provide top-tier legal representation free of charge to those on the front lines of evangelism.

But the battle isn’t over. As we press forward in discovery, we anticipate more attempts by Chicago to stifle the truth. Our ACLJ members and Champions helped get these street preachers in Chicago this far. Along with every ACLJ client, the preachers need you now more than ever.

If you’re not already a member, join us today at ACLJ.org and stand with us in this vital work. Together, we’ll continue to secure victories that echo through eternity, ensuring the Gospel rings out freely in every corner of America.

Stay tuned for more updates, and praise God for this step forward! Take action with us as this fight moves forward. Add your name to the petition: Defeat the Left’s War Against Pastors.