IJ Makes Headlines
These articles and editorials are just a sample of favorable local and national pieces IJ secured in the weeks prior to the release of the September issue of Liberty & Law.
By getting our message out in print, radio, broadcast, and online media, we show the real-world consequences of government restrictions on individual liberty—and make the case for change to judges, legislators and regulators, and the general public.
August 1, 2024
“You Break It, You Bought” It Applies To The Government Too
August 13, 2024
Lawsuit Attacks Florida’s Lab-Grown Meat Ban As Unconstitutional
August 18, 2024
Your View: Why Nazareth Was Wrong About ‘For Sale’ Signs
IJ Returns To The Big Screen
IJ’s work is coming to life in an inspiring new movie! Freedom Hair, produced by our friends at the Moving Picture Institute, is based on the true story of IJ client Melony Armstrong, who successfully challenged onerous laws that kept artists like her from earning an honest living by braiding hair unless they completed hundreds or even thousands of hours of unrelated training.
While working at a women’s shelter, Melony decided to start a natural hair braiding business to achieve financial independence for herself and others. To do so, she would have to overcome unexpected obstacles imposed by a powerful cartel and the state of Mississippi. As depicted in the film, with help from IJ, she frees herself to practice her trade—and helps thousands of other women do likewise.
The film is a love letter to IJ’s courageous clients and our work freeing all Americans to pursue their dreams. And if you look closely, you can spot both Melony and IJ Senior Vice President and Litigation Director Dana Berliner in cameos.
Freedom Hair is the second feature film to bring IJ’s work to life. The 2017 film Little Pink House dramatized the story of IJ client Susette Kelo, who fought all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the town of New London, Connecticut, from using eminent domain to give her home to private developers.
You can stream both Freedom Hair and Little Pink House on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, and more. Next movie night, make it an IJ double feature!
IJ Cases Get Big Shoutout In Supreme Court Justice’s New Book
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch’s newly published book, Over Ruled—which highlights the recent explosion of new criminal and civil statutes and the overwhelming power those laws give prosecutors and other government officials—prominently features IJ clients and findings from our strategic research. The cases of Texas hair braider Isis Brantley, Texas eyebrow threading salon owner Ash Patel, and the monks of Saint Joseph Abbey (who wanted to support their Louisiana community by selling handmade wooden caskets) resulted in groundbreaking IJ victories that made it easier for everyday Americans to pursue an honest living in the field of their choice.
Our clients’ stories, backed up by research like our License to Work and Barriers to Braiding reports, show how IJ’s work matters in the real world. We’re thrilled that this message is reflected in the Justice’s thinking on the law.
Related Cases
Economic Liberty | Hair Braiding | Occupational Licensing
Should African hair braiders have to build an entire barber college and become barbering instructors just to teach hair braiding? Texas officials think so.
Texas tried to force natural hair braiding schools to convert into fully-equipped barber colleges—solely to teach hair braiding—even though braiders aren’t barbers.
Cosmetology | Economic Liberty | Occupational Licensing
Hanging by a Thread: Texas Eyebrow Threaders Fight Irrational Licensing
Eyebrow threading is a booming industry in Texas. But state bureaucrats are making it difficult for individuals to continue practicing this ancient art.
Also in this issue
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