St. Louis, Missouri — April 13, 2015. Today, Nate Kellum, Chief Counsel with Center for Religious Expression, presented oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on behalf of Jason Powell, an evangelist who is being kept from sharing his Christian views on public areas outside of the Iowa State Fair.
In 2014, Mr. Powell filed a Complaint against various fair and state officials challenging fair policy that bans him from sharing his beliefs with willing individuals outside the gates of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. He needs legal relief so he can express his Christian message during this year’s fair and future fairs.
Attempting to resolve the matter, Nate Kellum wrote the Iowa Attorney General and asked for assurance of Powell’s freedom to speak. The plea was ignored, prompting the lawsuit.
“Powell only wants to stand on public sidewalks and share his Christian beliefs,” Kellum explained. “The freedom to express ideas on public ways is an inalienable right. I trust the appellate court will agree.”
