Family Research Council: Demanding Concessions from Dr. McCaskill is Further Voter Intimidation

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Oct 16, 2012, 01:04 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Gallaudet University President T. Alan Hurwitz released a statement saying he would "like to work with" Dr. Angela McCaskill, "to enable her to return" to the university.

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The university president suspended Dr. Angela McCaskill on October 10th after he learned that she had signed a ballot petition that allows Maryland voters to accept or reject legislation that redefines marriage. More than 52,000 people across the country have called on the University president to immediately reinstate Dr. McCaskill.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins had the following reaction:

"We are deeply troubled that University President Alan Hurwitz is engaging in further voter intimidation by telling Dr. McCaskill that he expects concessions from her before she is allowed to return to work. He did not state the nature of the concessions but what is very clear is the message he wants to send to Dr. McCaskill and the nearly 200,000 Maryland voters who signed the ballot petition: If you support giving voters the right to vote on marriage, you risk losing your livelihood.

"Dr. McCaskill is the perfect illustration of what's at stake if Question 6 passes. The effort to redefine marriage is all about our most basic civil rights – the right to worship, to speak freely, to cast our ballots, even, in Dr. McCaskill's case, to pursue a livelihood. Even the simple act of participating in the political process is grounds for dismissal.

"With only three weeks to go before Election Day, the university president continues to do his very best to use voter intimidation as a means to pass Question 6. However, we are encouraged that more than 52,000 people from across the nation have called for Dr. McCaskill's immediate reinstatement.

"We urge voters to resist these intimidation tactics and protect religious liberty and free speech by voting against Question 6," concluded Perkins.

Go to www.frc.org/marriage for more information on the four states voting on marriage on November 6th.

SOURCE Family Research Council