Patrick Hogarty served as an educator and Dean of Students in Colorado’s Cherry Creek School Distrct for nearly 20 years. He was fired after sharing a simple personal belief during a mandatory district training on race and equity: that he identifies as an American and he believes the United States is the greatest country in the world. The district’s Equity Director labeled his comments as having “racist undertones,” and shortly afterward, Mr. Hogarty was terminated under the pretext of budget cuts.

America First Legal (AFL) is suing the Cherry Creek School District and several administrators for unlawfully firing Mr. Hogarty in retailtion for his protected speech. Public employees do not lose their First Amendment right at work. AFL is at the forefront of defending freedom of expression and holding government institutions accountable.