Judge Enjoins USAID in DKT International Case
A federal judge has permanently enjoined USAID from enforcing its anti-prostitution policy on DKT International. From Phil Harvey, DKT President:
Judge Emmet Sullivan handed down his decision today in the case of DKT International v. USAID. The result is a major victory for DKT, for free speech, and for the integrity and independence of private US organizations.
Ruling that current US law, insofar as it requires "DKT to have a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking" is "an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment." Judge Sullivan permanently enjoined USAID from enforcing the prostitution policy against DKT. His findings generally rest on the same legal grounds as the decision by Judge Marrero in the OSI case last week. The US government may not require private organizations to parrot the government's chosen speech as a condition for receiving government funding. Our injunction is permanent, so this part of the case is over. DKT will again seek USAID support for its AIDS-prevention programming in Vietnam and elsewhere.
A federal judge has permanently enjoined USAID from enforcing its anti-prostitution policy on DKT International. From Phil Harvey, DKT President:
Judge Emmet Sullivan handed down his decision today in the case of DKT International v. USAID. The result is a major victory for DKT, for free speech, and for the integrity and independence of private US organizations.
Ruling that current US law, insofar as it requires "DKT to have a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking" is "an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment." Judge Sullivan permanently enjoined USAID from enforcing the prostitution policy against DKT. His findings generally rest on the same legal grounds as the decision by Judge Marrero in the OSI case last week. The US government may not require private organizations to parrot the government's chosen speech as a condition for receiving government funding. Our injunction is permanent, so this part of the case is over. DKT will again seek USAID support for its AIDS-prevention programming in Vietnam and elsewhere.