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NC governor vetoes privacy protections for supporters of charities, nonprofits

Friday, Sep 3, 2021

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Zack Pruitt regarding SB 636, a North Carolina bill vetoed Friday by Gov. Roy Cooper that would have protected the private information of individuals who support charities and other nonprofit organizations of their choice, consistent with the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the ADF case Thomas More Law Center v. Bonta:

“Every American should be free to peacefully support causes they believe in without fear of harassment or intimidation. We have seen states irresponsibly mandate disclosures that endanger donors, foster a culture of doxing, and discourage charitable giving. SB 636 would have been an important step in ensuring this doesn’t happen in North Carolina, consistent with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that affirmed that the First Amendment’s promise of ‘free association’ includes the right to donor privacy. Everyone deserves a voice, not merely those able to weather abuse. While we are disappointed today by Gov. Cooper’s veto, we commend the numerous North Carolina legislators who took a stand for the ability of individuals to privately support charities and other nonprofit organizations of their choice without unnecessary government interference.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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ABOUT Zack Pruitt

Zack Pruitt serves as senior counsel and director of U.S. government relations at Alliance Defending Freedom. In this role, he promotes ADF's policy and legislative work at the national level on behalf of the broader ADF legislative advocacy team. As a principal strategist, Pruitt oversees the federal and state government relations teams and provides legal counsel regarding ADF’s core issues to state officials, members and staff of the U.S. Congress, the White House, and federal agencies. Prior to joining ADF, Pruitt served as senior policy analyst at Americans for Prosperity and director of public policy for the Family Action Council of Tennessee. Pruitt earned his Juris Doctor with a certificate in International and Comparative Law from St. Louis University School of Law. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is member of the state bar in Tennessee and the District of Columbia.