“The owner of a coffee business who had set up a coffee shop at Boise State University (BSU) has been awarded $4 million in damages after she was kicked off campus for displaying a pro-police sign following the 2020 summer riots,” reports Campus Reform.
“Sarah Jo Fendley, the owner of Big City Coffee, opened a café on BSU grounds in September 2020. Following destructive riots that rocked the U.S. after the death of George Floyd, Fendley set up a ‘thin blue line’ flag at her store to express solidarity for law enforcement, especially to honor her former fiancée, a police officer who was fired upon and left paralyzed by a criminal.”
Left-wing students were enraged by her support for the police, viewing her pro-police flag as a manifestation of racism.
“I hope y’all don’t go there if you truly support your bipoc peers and other students, staff and faculty,” one student wrote.
To appease angry students, BSU administrators forced Fendley’s coffee shop off campus. In response, Fendley sued the school, alleging that BSU’s decision was in retaliation for her exercising her First Amendment right to free speech.
On September 13, a jury awarded Fendley $4 million in compensation for the harm caused by the university’s unconstitutional actions.
“I’m thankful that the truth finally came out and grateful to the jury for their time and effort. It’s been a long four years, and I’m just happy that it’s over,” said Fendley.
BSU officials said that they “strongly disagree with today’s verdict and plan to appeal. They plan to appeal to the Idaho Supreme Court.
A pro-First Amendment group in Idaho praised the verdict, saying that it would deter colleges from violating the First Amendment in the future. Ron Nat of the Idaho Freedom Foundation said, “I am thrilled at the outcome of this trial. This verdict not only is a big win for free speech and the 1st Amendment, but it is also a warning to other institutions who would use dirty tactics to promote a woke agenda and create a cancel culture on their campuses.”
