Newark, N.J. - What began as a New Jersey mom expressing concerns on Facebook about “polysexuality” and transgender posters displayed to her kids at a local elementary school, spiraled into police intimidation, secret military coordination, federal “threat-tagging,” and repeated airport harassment. Now, almost three years after the case was filed, a federal court has ruled that key claims in her lawsuit may proceed.

The Court found that Angela Reading’s claims against North Hanover Township Police Chief, Robert Duff, for First Amendment censorship and retaliation can move forward.

In addition, the Court allowed Angela’s claims against the Secretary of Homeland Security and the head of the Transportation Security Administration to proceed, permitting litigation over the ongoing “threat-tagging” of Angela and her repeated harassment at airports.

Strikingly, the Court also found it plausible—based on numerous public records disclosures of previously “secret” emails and communications—that a cadre of U.S. military officials illegally conspired with Chief Duff to pressure Angela into removing her post through coercive intimidation. Yet, the Court said military officials can’t be sued for damages because this kind of alleged conspiracy isn’t clearly defined in the law, even though it agreed the goal of their conspiracy was clearly unconstitutional. Thomas More Society plans to appeal that part of the ruling.

“This case exposes an extraordinary and unthinkable abuse of government power,” said Christopher Ferrara, Senior Counsel at Thomas More Society. “A mom spoke out online about inappropriate content displayed to her children in an elementary school and in return, local U.S. military officials coordinated with a uniformed Police Chief to censor her quintessentially protected Facebook post. Angela has been flagged for screenings at the airport, was forced to resign from her school board, and had job offers rescinded.”

The case now moves into discovery, allowing attorneys to obtain additional documents and testimony detailing how local police, federal agencies, and other government officials coordinated their actions.

“No parent should be censored for peacefully speaking out and welcoming respectful debate about protecting young children from sexually explicit material,” Ferrara added. “We plan on further uncovering how multiple state and federal officials worked together to target a private citizen for exercising her constitutional rights in standing up for family values. This should concern every American parent who fears government retaliation for defending their children and expressing disagreement with inappropriate, anti-family propaganda being foisted upon them at school.”