EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: FSU student body president ousted after sharing Catholic beliefs in Catholic group chat speaks out
FSU student Jack Denton filed a lawsuit in hopes of being reinstated to his position as student senate president.
In the June messages, he explained hesitancy to support the BLM organization for advocating for things “contrary to the Catholic teachings.”
Denton was removed from his position following backlash for leaked private messages.
After being removed from his position as student Senate President at Florida State University, Jack Denton filed a lawsuit against the school’s leadership and student government. Denton’s ousting comes after some of his private messages from a group chat were leaked.
In the group chat, Denton, a self-proclaimed devout Catholic, explained his hesitancy to financially support the Black Lives Matter organization in response to one student sharing a link that would raise donation revenue.
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“There’s nothing wrong with Black Lives Matter the sentiment,” Denton told Campus Reform. “I agree with that, and I think anyone should and would.” However, he went on to say that the Black Lives Matter organization and the ACLU “advocate for things that are contrary to the Catholic teachings.”
Denton listed wider access to abortion as one example.
Denton hopes to finish the remainder of his term which expires on October 21. Since the position is paid, he is also asking to be paid the salary loss because of this removal.
“Every day that he is unable to act as Senate President on his rightful terms, he is being denied his First Amendment rights, and we think that is wrong,” Senior Counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom Tyson Langhofer told Campus Reform. “No student should feel forced to silence their deepest convictions simply to hold a job or participate in a student organization.”
“I would just like to say that to religious students and non-religious students alike, when you walk on a college campus, you do not forfeit your right to freedom of speech or freedom of religion,” said Denton.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @JezzamineWolk
