Sekulow

Logan Sekulow: You're not going to believe this. ACLJ's new client, a firefighter, rejected for being homeschooled.
Announcer: Keeping you informed and engaged. Now, more than ever, this is Sekulow. We want to hear from you. Share and post your comments, or call 1-800-684-3110. And now your host, Logan Sekulow.
Logan Sekulow: Welcome to Sekulow. We have a packed show today. This is Logan Sekulow. Will Haynes here. Phone lines open 1-800-684-3110. We've got to start this off. The ACLJ has a new client. You are not going to want to miss this. It's an unbelievable story about someone who is just trying to get a job doing a service that we need more people like Andrew, who will be joining us in the next segment on this show. More people who are ready to step up and do jobs like trying to be a firefighter in their local community. His application was rejected for a reason that likely a lot of your kids who are listening, or your grandkids, would be rejected for that exact same reason. I don't want to bury the lead here. We're going to bring him on. We're going to discuss it all coming up. This is simply because, get this, what is his high school diploma? What's it come from? A homeschool program. For some reason, that has disqualified him from being a paid firefighter. Let's not forget that the guy is already, for multiple years, a paid EMT. He's been a volunteer firefighter for a number of years. He went to go apply for the job and the city rejected it. We are not going to stand for this. This is one of the coolest things about this. You know how we found this client? Because one of you tagged me on social media and said, "Logan, I think the ACLJ needs to get involved in this." I read up on it, sent it to our legal team, and said, "Absolutely, let's see what we can do." We reached out, and now we have him signed. He's one of our clients here at the ACLJ, not only standing up for him, but standing up for homeschoolers across the country.
Will Haynes: That's right. We'll be joined in the next segment by Andrew Coates, who is 22 years old from Nebraska. He's a really impressive young man who just wants to be a first responder.
Logan Sekulow: Nebraska. Remember, this is Nebraska. We're not talking about some state that you think of that may be really hampering homeschoolers. You're talking about Nebraska. You wouldn't think this is a problem. But again, it's not a semantics issue. This is an issue where they are still specifically going after him. There are clips that I've seen of people at the meetings when he's trying to get through saying, "Well, it's implied." Guess what they did after? Because the job requirement did not say "no homeschoolers" or "had to be a specifically state-accredited school." They went back and changed the language after they denied his request and after the deadline. Not only are we going after them because he clearly was discriminated against, we're also going to be representing this in a much bigger way to try to protect the rights of homeschoolers. We can do that with the team here at the ACLJ. This is the kind of work we've been doing for 40 years. Sometimes these still bubble up, but this one is maybe the most egregious that we've seen in a long time because you cannot be more qualified and you cannot be more targeted.
Will Haynes: That's right. We sent yesterday evening a litigation hold letter to the City of Fremont, letting them know they're on notice that federal litigation can be reasonably anticipated from the American Center for Law and Justice. They're on notice. We have an attorney on our way to Nebraska right now as we speak to be there for a city council meeting tonight where they're trying to clean up the mess. But it won't be enough. We'll talk about that as well. You'll get to hear from the client in the next segment because the only thing that happened here was his parents followed the law when it came to homeschooling their child, and the city decided that's not good enough and we're discriminating against you.
Logan Sekulow: Homeschoolers, it's time for you to stand up. Homeschool parents, homeschool grandparents, anyone who feels like their rights are going to be trampled because of rules like this. We have a petition right now. It helps support Andrew and helps support homeschoolers worldwide. Go to aclj.org/sign right now and sign that petition. Of course, the ACLJ team couldn't jump into action without you. I mean that in two different ways. Financially, obviously, because we need our team and I want the best lawyers on this, but also because people like you even kept us aware that this was happening. That is the strength of the ACLJ family and the ACLJ champions. We'll be right back with Andrew Coates.
Announcer: The challenges facing America are substantial. At a time when our values, our freedoms, and our constitutional rights are under attack, it's more important than ever to stand with the American Center for Law and Justice. For decades now, the ACLJ has been on the front lines protecting your freedoms, defending your rights in courts, in Congress, and in the public arena. We have an exceptional track record of success. But here's the bottom line: we could not do our work without your support. We remain committed to protecting your religious and constitutional freedoms. That remains our top priority, especially now during these challenging times. The American Center for Law and Justice is on your side. If you're already a member, thank you. If you're not, this is the perfect time to stand with us at aclj.org, where you can learn more about our life-changing work. Become a member today at aclj.org.
Announcer: Welcome to the all-new ACLJ app. Expert analysis and insight Big Tech can't censor. Customize your news and get real-time alerts on the issues you care about. Advocacy is now at your fingertips. Take action, make a difference, support the causes you care about with just one tap. Be the first to know. Breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox. Everything you need, all in one place. Stay informed, stay empowered. Download today.
Logan Sekulow: We are so excited to announce the ACLJ's brand-new app, completely redesigned to provide you with the best tools available to partner with us at the ACLJ. You can watch the daily Sekulow program, sign the petitions, customize your ACLJ membership experience, donate with the click of a button, and receive up-to-the-minute critical updates that the mainstream media can't censor. Just scan the QR code on your screen or go to your phone's app store, search ACLJ, and click install. It's that simple.
Announcer: The challenges facing America are substantial. At a time when our values, our freedoms, and our constitutional rights are under attack, it's more important than ever to stand with the American Center for Law and Justice. For decades now, the ACLJ has been on the front lines protecting your freedoms, defending your rights in courts, in Congress, and in the public arena. We have an exceptional track record of success. But here's the bottom line: we could not do our work without your support. We remain committed to protecting your religious and constitutional freedoms. That remains our top priority, especially now during these challenging times. The American Center for Law and Justice is on your side. If you're already a member, thank you. If you're not, this is the perfect time to stand with us at aclj.org, where you can learn more about our life-changing work. Become a member today at aclj.org.
Logan Sekulow: Welcome back to Sekulow. This story we have been teasing for the last few days is something that came directly from one of you who tagged me in a social media post and said, "Logan, the ACLJ needs to get involved in this." I saw the story and I said, "Absolutely, you're right." I got with our legal team and said, "Let's figure out how we can help if possible at all." We are joined by our new client, Andrew Coates. Andrew has a wild story. For anyone who cares about the rights of homeschoolers—and by the way, I am a homeschooler, Will was a homeschooler, and my children are homeschooled—it hits pretty close to home when you have these situations where there are people who have spent their lives dedicated to service in so many different things, and then they are specifically targeted because they were homeschooled or they are homeschooling in general. That brings us to Andrew. Andrew, welcome to the show. We have such an interesting story for you to break down because your story doesn't have to do with being a current homeschooler. It has to do with what happened after, when you decided you would like a career that everyone thinks is one of the most noble professions.
Andrew Coates: Yeah, thank you for having me.
Logan Sekulow: Absolutely. So let's break that down. How did this story start? You've been working successfully and professionally as an EMT, qualified and trained, and you've also been volunteering at the fire department. How did this happen?
Andrew Coates: I actually volunteer in a town close to me for about two years now. I saw the opportunity for Fremont that opened up and I decided I just wanted to take my shot at it.
Will Haynes: And things devolved fairly quickly. In this story, you apply for the job and then get turned down for a very specific reason. Tell our audience what that was and how you found out that you were not going to be hired as a full-time firefighter in the City of Fremont.
Andrew Coates: I went to go apply and sent in all my stuff. I got a phone call after the deadline the next day from the HR director and she said my application was being withdrawn because my high school diploma was unaccredited. I actually just couldn't believe that for a minute because I graduated under a lawful Nebraska school. When she told me that, I was actually kind of shocked that was the reason I was being excluded from the process.
Will Haynes: We also will be talking with our attorney to break down some of the legal side as well and what we're doing as we are representing Andrew here. But one of the other things here is that it wasn't just the fact that they had something on the books that said homeschoolers cannot apply. They actually changed things after the fact to make sure that the regulations backed up what the HR individual said. This wasn't something you could have in advance gone and found out. This specifically was discriminatory against you because you were homeschooled.
Andrew Coates: I can't speak to what the intent on the person's heart may have been that day, but it definitely seems like there was an attempt to keep homeschoolers out, especially after changing the job requirements after the closing date of the job.
Logan Sekulow: Again, you're someone who is very well qualified for this position beyond this one very nuanced and I would say ridiculous, as Will said, discriminatory rule set. We need people like you who are willing to risk their lives in these positions. I think anyone who has dealt with local fire departments, police forces, or EMTs wants people like you who know what they're doing, who are qualified in the situation, and can do the physical requirements that are needed. The fact that we are disqualifying people because of something like this—as you said, you can't speak to the heart, but it feels like a deeper reason. Homeschooling is very important to us. Respecting and being able to protect homeschoolers even beyond yourself seems important to you.
Andrew Coates: Yeah, it does. I was obviously homeschooled and I know what that's like. I had a great time being homeschooled. I just feel like we need to stand up right now, especially if homeschoolers aren't even allowed to work for the city right now. It's just crazy to me, honestly.
Will Haynes: I know, Andrew, this isn't something that you obviously were looking to get involved in. You just wanted to be a firefighter, something that you had been doing on a volunteer basis. By the way, you were awarded Rookie Firefighter of the Year. You have received praise for your job and the job that you do on a volunteer basis. Now that you're in this, I know homeschoolers are usually very important to us. There are reasons that we homeschool outside of just knowing that we can get a good education that way. But now, what does this feel like as you take this story to a wider audience? There is something here that needs to be pointed out to ensure that people in Nebraska where you are are not discriminated against for the way that they and their parents chose to educate them, as well as maybe even nationally where this might be happening other places that we need to point out and ensure that laws are applied equally and that people aren't discriminated against just because of a legal education that you received and that is recognized by your state.
Andrew Coates: I agree. I think this is a fight worth fighting. If it's recognized by the state, I don't see what the issue would be. So yeah, you're definitely right.
Logan Sekulow: Andrew, I wanted to jump into the heart of this story here as well, which is you've decided that you wanted this to be your career path. Why is that? Why is being an EMT or a firefighter the journey you have been on and why is that important to you?
Andrew Coates: I started in law enforcement following my dad's footsteps and he was like, "Don't do law enforcement." He's like, "Go try firefighting." We actually had a friend at the time that worked for our family business who was a Fremont firefighter and still is. He was like, "Hey, you should try firefighting." He talked to me about the fire service and just really good things about it. So he encouraged me to go try fire school. So I did. I went to go to Fire 1, took Hazmat Ops, and really enjoyed the hands-on training experience and just really fell in love with the job at that point. We've just been chasing the job for about two years now and we've loved every step of the way.
Will Haynes: I also think it's important to point out that we've mentioned that you've been volunteering in that way, and also you're a licensed EMT in the state. But this isn't as though you graduated yesterday and went and applied. You're 22 years old now. You have been out of high school for some period of time. Even that points people to the fact that you have life experience. This isn't just that they found a way because they were looking for someone with more experience. That's when our legal team looks at this. The deeper we dive into it, we see this is what appears—and that's why a litigation hold letter has been sent to the city to be prepared for action—because it is on its face. It appears discriminatory. It seems like it violates the free exercise clause. All of these things. This isn't they just found a way to look for someone with more experience.
Andrew Coates: Yeah, I would definitely say I met the minimum requirements of the job. I definitely have some experience in the field that I was looking forward to bringing with me to Fremont Fire. And I even almost meet the preferred requirements, which is an associate's degree in fire science, which I graduate hopefully in the spring. So I'll have that too.
Logan Sekulow: That's absolutely wild, Andrew, that they are disqualifying you for your high school diploma saying that it was not accredited when you are about to have an associate's specifically in fire science. I didn't even know these were requirements that were necessary. Look, for our audience, and Andrew, I appreciate you popping on and spending time with us today. I know that it's important to you. It's obviously important to us and we're going to fight as hard as we can. Like Will said, there are things that they may try to do to say, "Okay, we're making up for it." That doesn't necessarily get you the job. That doesn't necessarily move things along properly for you because you were one of the people here who was certainly discriminated against. But we need to also protect homeschoolers in general. I think when I'm saying this right now to our audience, this is old-school ACLJ work. This is the work that we have been doing for 40 years nearly here at the ACLJ. It is time to keep standing up for homeschoolers. Again, it's hitting a little closer to home right now. All of us who were homeschooled now have school-aged children. My children are homeschooled, so I understand this firsthand. I don't want them to come out of high school and feel like they can't do incredible jobs like what Andrew's trying to do, just honestly being someone who is paid to do a service that very few are willing to sacrifice themselves for. So at this moment, I really want to encourage you all to pray for Andrew, pray for the team here at the ACLJ. It is not going to—it sounds like sometimes it can be a ridiculous thing when you hear the facts of this case, the facts of this situation, but the truth is there are forces at play that certainly don't want this to happen. So I encourage you all to please stand up and support right now. We're going to have a lot of ways you can do that directly with our teams at aclj.org, but also again, keep Andrew and his family in your prayers and really, we're going to fight back hard. This is something that, again, I have to thank one of our ACLJ supporters for bringing this to my attention. So then we could take it from here and do some amazing work. Be a part of that team today also at aclj.org. We'll be right back with more on Sekulow.
Announcer: Welcome to the all-new ACLJ app. Expert analysis and insight Big Tech can't censor. Customize your news and get real-time alerts on the issues you care about. Advocacy is now at your fingertips. Take action, make a difference, support the causes you care about with just one tap. Be the first to know. Breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox. Everything you need, all in one place. Stay informed, stay empowered. Download today.
Logan Sekulow: We are so excited to announce the ACLJ's brand-new app, completely redesigned to provide you with the best tools available to partner with us at the ACLJ. You can watch the daily Sekulow program, sign the petitions, customize your ACLJ membership experience, donate with the click of a button, and receive up-to-the-minute critical updates that the mainstream media can't censor. Just scan the QR code on your screen or go to your phone's app store, search ACLJ, and click install. It's that simple.
Announcer: The challenges facing America are substantial. At a time when our values, our freedoms, and our constitutional rights are under attack, it's more important than ever to stand with the American Center for Law and Justice. For decades now, the ACLJ has been on the front lines protecting your freedoms, defending your rights in courts, in Congress, and in the public arena. We have an exceptional track record of success. But here's the bottom line: we could not do our work without your support. We remain committed to protecting your religious and constitutional freedoms. That remains our top priority, especially now during these challenging times. The American Center for Law and Justice is on your side. If you're already a member, thank you. If you're not, this is the perfect time to stand with us at aclj.org, where you can learn more about our life-changing work. Become a member today at aclj.org.
Logan Sekulow: Welcome back to Sekulow. Continuing this discussion. Look, the ACLJ, when these moments happen, we have to jump on it as fast as possible. There are some people maybe panicking in Nebraska trying to right this wrong, fix it very quickly. But you know what? Even their suggested writing of the wrong is not going to stop us because the discrimination happened, it occurred, and it can continue to happen. By the way, it specifically happened to our client. I think we need to restate that because they are trying to—we maybe even saw one of the video packages, people from the city, people from the area saying, "Well, we're going to try to see what we can do." That doesn't change what's already been done.
Will Haynes: That's right. And what we're seeing tonight is that the City of Fremont, their city council and their mayor are meeting to try and pass a new policy to change what happened in the past. Even though, remember, the policy before wasn't to exclude homeschoolers. They changed the language after they rejected our client here. But still, now they're trying to say, "Look, we got caught. Let's go ahead and change the policy to make it so that every homeschooler has an equal opportunity as well." What does that not do? It doesn't remedy the situation with our client here. And that's why we have an ACLJ attorney that is on his way to Nebraska right now to be there for that meeting. But it's also why last night we sent a litigation hold letter to the City of Fremont that basically is saying you're on notice, preserve your records. Here are the things you have to be holding onto because you can reasonably expect there's a federal lawsuit coming.