Angela Reading v. North Hanover Township, New Jersey et al.

Thomas More Society filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Angela Reading, a New Jersey mother and school board member, against North Hanover Township’s police chief and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst military personnel. The suit alleges violations of Reading’s First Amendment rights after she was coerced to remove a November 22, 2022, Facebook post criticizing LGBT-affirming posters, including one mentioning “polysexuality,” at her daughter’s elementary school during a “math night.” Reading argued the posters, which prompted questions from her seven-year-old, were inappropriate and not part of the state curriculum, inviting respectful discussion about the matter.

The defendants, including U.S. Army Reserve Major Christopher Schilling and Air Force civilian Joseph Vasquez, allegedly orchestrated a smear campaign, labeling Reading a “security threat” and reporting her to state police and homeland security. This led to harassment, forcing Reading and her husband to resign from their school board roles and seek alternative education for their children. The lawsuit claims the defendants conspired to censor her protected speech and chill her rights under the U.S. and New Jersey constitutions. A district court denied an injunction, but on September 4, 2024, the Third Circuit heard arguments on appeal. As of today, the appeal remains pending.