Last Friday, a United Kingdom Judge ruled in favor of Franklin Graham, saying that the town of Blackpool, England had violated religious liberty protections when it removed bus ads promoting a 2018 Christian event hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
In the decision, Judge Claire Evans ruled that the Blackpool council and the Blackpool Transport Services, owned by the town, “discriminated on the ground of religion,” violating Article 10 rights which protect freedom of expression.
In July 2018, Blackpool succumbed to rising pressure on social media calling for the town to prohibit bus ads promoting the “Lancashire Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham” due to Graham’s adherence to biblical views on marriage and sexuality.
04-06-2021
After a legal fight that lasted several years, evangelist Franklin Graham has won an important case for religious freedom in the UK.
Manchester County Court Judge Claire Evans has ruled that the 2018 Lancashire Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham was discriminated against when ads promoting the event were pulled from buses in Blackpool, England in an effort to ban him from preaching the gospel.
During September 2018, the Blackpool Borough Council and Blackpool Transport Services Limited removed bus advertisements displaying the words Time for Hope, citing that members of the community complained about Graham s association with the festival.
The transportation company said they received feedback from members of the community who were concerned over the evangelist s religious beliefs on marriage and sexuality.