We’re Suing to Protect Free Speech!
Houston Park Violated First Amendment Rights of Immigrant Demonstrator & Doctor. Now University of Texas Law & Religion Clinic and FIRE are Suing.
Other protestors allowed to demonstrate but animal protectors are denied at Discovery Green Park
Iranian Doctor tear gassed in Iran now experiences government oppression in Houston, Texas
Gay atheist scientist and straight religious businessman unite in fight for Free Speech
[Houston, Texas] - Our first blog post is to share that a groundbreaking lawsuit has been filed against Discovery Green, a prominent public park in Houston, the Houston Police Department and police officers for violating First Amendment rights to Free Speech & Religious Exercise.
The lawsuit is brought forth by the Law & Religion Clinic of the Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center at the University of Texas and FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights & Expression) on behalf of Daraius Dubash and Dr. Faraz Harsini, both immigrants and dedicated animal rights advocates with the Anonymous for the Voiceless group. They are also board members of Allied Scholars for Animal Protection, a national non-profit.
Mr. Dubash was arrested for criminal trespass in a public park and Dr. Harsini was threatened with arrest, unless he left the park when they exercised their First Amendment rights. The charges were later dismissed, though at great personal expense and attorney fees for Mr. Dubash.
As a student of Advaita Vedanta (a stream of Hindu philosophy & religion) taught by Acharya Prashant, Dubash’s religious beliefs compel him to protect beings who cannot protect themselves.
Dr. Harsini escaped persecution from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and was granted a U.S. Green Card in the Exceptional Ability category for his scientific research on diseases.
Mr. Dubash and Dr. Harsini have peacefully demonstrated at public forums in various cities across Texas and the United States such as Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Waco, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles without incident.
“This park has hosted many large and loud demonstrations from groups against the NRA and Black Lives Matter. Ours is a peaceful and quiet protest to bring attention to animal cruelty.
Our First Amendment rights were violated and I was illegally arrested. It’s also highly hypocritical & discriminatory to allow certain groups to exercise free speech but not us.”
Rules For Me, but not for Thee at Discovery Green, Houston, USA
“I was granted Permanent Residence in the US for my scientific contributions in the field of cancer and infectious diseases research. And now Discovery Green removes us from the park when I share the scientific reasons to not eat animal products such as better health, prevention of pandemics and reduction in infectious diseases!” says Dr. Faraz Harsini.
“Raising awareness about animal exploitation and its connection to global public health and environmental issues is vital for the well-being of individuals and the planet.”
“Daraius and Faraz each fled countries where they couldn’t speak like they do here,” said Law & Religion Clinic attorney John Greil.
They cherish their rights, and we’re proud to fight for them.”
"My Vedanta teacher, Acharya Prashant, explains that "minimizing unnecessary killing is the maximization of one's own consciousness and potential as a human" and that "in today's times, veganism is the strongest name for compassion."
This realization made me stop eating animal products. It was one of the best decisions of my life! And I now want to share this understanding and Acharya Prashant's teachings with others” said Mr. Dubash.
“As a biomedical and food system scientist who received his Green Card in the exceptional ability category, I realized that nothing is more powerful than being honest and open with people and showing them how their meat, eggs, and dairy are produced.
The meat, egg, and dairy industries don’t want people to see this footage, because it goes against their narrative of “happy animals, humanely raised and killed” and of meat promoting health. Nothing could be further from the truth!”
He goes on to add:
“A significant portion of top killers and diseases in the US such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and other chronic diseases are caused by animal products. Antibiotic resistance resulting from the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in animal farming is a major threat to human life globally.
Animal consumption and farming are top drivers of next pandemics. These are the UN's words, not mine! No matter whether it is small farms or large ones, labeled organic or cage-free, animals are exploited for profit. And once they're not profitable, they go to the same slaughterhouse – and in all cases – promote pandemics and zoonotic diseases.”
“No one should be handcuffed and detained for exercising his First Amendment rights,” said FIRE attorney JT Morris.
“We’re suing because public parks belong to all Americans and are for their expressive rights, not the personal views of a few.”
Discovery Park management refused to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution, thus necessitating the legal action.
The lawsuit seeks to compel Discovery Green to allow Mr. Dubash and Dr. Harsini to exercise their Constitutional right to peacefully demonstrate at the park as they have in other cities, without threat, harassment, or imprisonment.
The Kinder Foundation helped build Discovery Green park, providing millions in financing. This same nonprofit organization also launched the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri, a program to support excellence in the teaching and study of American constitutional and democratic traditions.
Shockingly, the noble values of the Foundation appear to have been subverted by the unconstitutional actions of Discovery Green’s bureaucracy (The Discovery Green Conservancy).
If Free Speech and protecting animals matters to you, please share this blog post and video far and wide!
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