Minneapolis, MN — In a decisive win for free speech, a federal judge has blocked Minnesota from enforcing its vendor disclosure requirements against grassroots advocacy organizations Minnesota Right to Life and Minnesota Gun Rights. The ruling in the case litigated by the Institute for Free Speech protects the organizations’ ability to engage in political speech without exposing their business partners to harassment and intimidation.
U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel granted the preliminary injunction today, finding that Minnesota’s requirement to publicly disclose vendor names and addresses likely violates the First Amendment. The decision prevents the state from enforcing penalties against the organizations for refusing to identify vendors who help distribute their advocacy messages.
“We’re extremely pleased with this crucial first victory in our fight to defend the First Amendment rights of grassroots organizations in Minnesota,” said Institute for Free Speech Senior Attorney Brett Nolan. “The court correctly recognized that forcing organizations to paint targets on their vendors’ backs serves no legitimate purpose and only chills protected speech.”
The lawsuit arose after both organizations experienced severe harassment campaigns targeting their vendors. In 2020, activists discovered Minnesota Right to Life’s mailbox vendor and launched a pressure campaign that resulted in the vendor canceling service without warning, causing the organization to lose thousands of dollars and valuable supporter information. Both groups have been “deplatformed” by multiple vendors after their relationships became public.
Judge Brasel found that Minnesota failed to show how disclosing vendor information serves any substantial government interest. The court noted a “dramatic mismatch” between the state’s claimed interest in transparency and the vendor disclosure requirement, observing that the information wouldn’t even be available until well after advertising campaigns end and legislative sessions conclude.
“The court recognized this law for what it is—a tool to make advocacy more difficult and dangerous for organizations with disfavored viewpoints,” explained Ben Dorr, Executive Director of Minnesota Gun Rights and Minnesota Right to Life. “This law does little else besides handing a ready-made ‘enemies list’ to our political opponents. We’ve already seen vendors refuse to work with us after being targeted. This ruling ensures we can continue our grassroots advocacy without putting our business partners at risk.”
The preliminary injunction remains in effect while the case proceeds to a final determination. The ruling marks an important win for protecting political speech from compelled disclosure requirements that serve no legitimate purpose beyond enabling harassment.
To read the court’s order in Minnesota Right to Life and Minnesota Gun Rights v. Rashid, et al., click here. To read the original press release on the filing of the case, click here. To access full case resources, including our client’s story and all filings in the case, see our case page here.
About the Institute for Free Speech
The Institute for Free Speech promotes and defends the political speech rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government guaranteed by the First Amendment.
