Ohio Jehovah's Witnesses commemorate Supreme Court case

One of the tenets of the Jehovah's Witnesses is conducting door-to-door visits to share their faith.

In 1998, that practice became the subject of a free speech case in the U.S. Supreme Court; the result of Witnesses being driven out of Stratton, Ohio, a village of about 300 in Jefferson County.

Josh McDaniel, director of the Religious Freedom Clinic at Harvard Law School, said the case was a hallmark for religious freedom and free speech. 

“Looking back on the two decades since the decision, it’s clear to see the wide-ranging impact that Watchtower v. Stratton has had on free speech for all,” he said in a prepared statement. “This is just the latest of some 50 Supreme Court victories by Jehovah’s Witnesses that have helped establish and broaden First Amendment jurisprudence throughout the last century.”

According to reports, late Stratton Mayor John Abdala confronted four Witnesses as they were leaving town. Soon afterward, the village enacted an ordinance, Regulating Uninvited Peddling and Solicitation Upon Private Property.

When the village refused to modify the ordinance for religious organizations, the Witnesses sued. They won, in an 8-1 decision.

The high court also overturned two lower court decisions favoring the village.

“Our motive for initiating the case was clear: We wanted to remove any obstacle that would prevent us from carrying out our scriptural obligation to preach the good news of the Kingdom,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Making it a criminal offense to talk with a neighbor without seeking government approval is offensive to many people, but particularly to God who commanded Christians to preach the Gospel.”

Though Witnesses have been successful in U.S. courts, they continue to be targeted by unfriendly governments in other countries, particularly Russia, where the church has been deemed illegal.

Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned in Russia for practicing their faith, which has caused hundreds to flee the country.

Also, according to the World Watch List, a yearly survey published by the Christian organization Open Doors, persecutions against Christians have increased worldwide.

The report notes that an estimated 340 million Christians in 50 countries have experienced some form persecution since 2020, with 4,761 being murdered for their faith.

That's an increase from 260 million in 2019.

In 2020, Witnesses suspended going door-to-door due to the pandemic. Instead, they employed strategies such as letter-writing campaigns and phone calls. In April, the church resumed in-person meetings at Kingdom Halls.

More:Jehovah's Witnesses embracing new ways to minister amid pandemic

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a high school football coach in Bremerton, Washington, who was fired for conducting postgame prayers on the 50-year line.

More:Supreme Court backs praying coach Joseph Kennedy who knelt on the 50-yard line after games

The justices voted 6-3 in favor of the argument that Joseph Kennedy's actions were private speech. But critics point to reports that some of Kennedy's players said they felt pressured into participating.

To read more about the Stratton case, visit  www.jw.org and type "Stratton" in the search field.