Rutgers Mandate Rally in Philadelphia
Be there. Make them play fair.
Please join the New Jersey and Pennsylvania chapters of Children’s Health Defense for a rally in Philadelphia to show support for the plaintiffs in the Rutgers mandate case and the CHD legal team as we gather to deliver a strong message to the judges that informed consent matters.
We are awaiting confirmation of final details, but please mark your calendars:
When: Tuesday, June 27, 9am-12pm
Where: James A. Byrne US Courthouse, 601 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
*Bus transportation is in the works. Please reach out to via [email protected] if you are interested in getting a seat on the bus.
Sieze the Day
On Tuesday, June 27, Julio Gomez, lead attorney in the case CHD against Rutgers University, plans to give his oral argument before a panel of 3 judges. We need to show up strong and let everyone involved know we’re paying attention.
Important legal precedents are at stake. Rutgers University was one of the first universities in the country to mandate the COVID vaccine, leading the way for mandates in educational institutions throughout the country. Lucrative public-private partnerships and multiple conflicts of interest may have muddied the waters as Rutger’s COVID policy was created prompting serious questions as to whether the institution is more invested in following science or leading it in a pre-ordained direction.
The decision in this case has the potential to impact states covered by the 3rd Circuit (NJ, DE, PA, the Virgin Islands) and possibly the entire country depending on the ruling.
The History of CHD vs. Rutgers
In August 2021, Children’s Health Defense joined 18 students to file a lawsuit in federal court against Rutgers University over its decision to mandate COVID vaccines for students attending school in the fall. The lawsuit alleged Rutgers’ policy, which included those attending class remotely, was a violation of the right to informed consent and the right to refuse unwanted medical treatments.
On Sept. 9, 2022, more than a year after CHD initially sued the university, Judge Quraishi granted Rutgers’ motion to dismiss.
In January of 2023, Gomez filed the first appeal brief and appendix on behalf of CHD with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia after CHD lost in the district court. Among other things, CHD asserts that the District Court of New Jersey didn’t follow the legal standard when it dismissed CHD’s case.
Our college students deserve better. Please join us in Philadelphia and help us create a win for informed consent and ALL students of higher education.