According to the Catholic News Agency, a federal judge ruled on Oct.12 that the Baltimore city officials cannot cancel St. Michael's Media's planned rally that will coincide with the U.S. bishops' November fall meeting.

St. Michael's Media is planning a prayer rally called "Bishops: Enough is Enough," coinciding with the U.S. bishops' November fall meeting in Baltimore city. The rally will occur on Nov. 16 at the city-owned MECU Pavilion.

Steve Bannon, together with Milo Yiannopolous, is joining the rally in November. Both advertised speakers have a history of attracting significant contentious and protests at past events.

Media's Rally Canceled By Baltimore Officials

On Aug. 5, St. Michael's received a notice from the company managing the venue that they could not execute the rally as ordered by the city. 

The city cited safety concerns; later on, the officials argued in court that the rally's cancellation was due to contentious speakers and planned size. 'Disruption and violence' may arise from rallies, as warned by city officials.

The spokesperson for Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Cal Harris, said that they have the responsibility "to protect our property and fellow citizens" as the rally is designated to execute in their city.

Federal district Judge Ellen L. Hollander finds the city had introduced "shifting justifications for its actions," stating it in her Oct. 12 opinion. The city also only had little evidence to present that "the decision was premised on these justifications," she continues.

St. Michael's Media claimed that the city never notified them about the cancellation, according to the Sept. 13 filed complaint. The media added that a record of the incident never occurred in the venue after months of communication.

Aside from security risk, Baltimore city cited Michael Voris, host of the Church Militant broadcast, who had referred to the Jan. 6 rioters as "patriots."

Hollander stated that the rally's cancellation was based on the 'anticipated reaction' of a crowd. "The City never accuses St. Michael's of actual involvement in the events of January 6, 2021."

Hollander had written that Baltimore cannot "conjure up hypothetical hecklers and then grant them veto power."

City Officials Cite Controversial Speakers' Statements 

The city officials used Bannon and Yiannopolous' recent statements to support their argument that the rally poses a security risk, according to the Sept. 23 memorandum in court.

Bannon recently stated he would 'put the heads' of Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI director Christopher Wray 'on pikes' to serve 'as a warning to federal bureaucrats' in his podcast. 

Meanwhile, the city notes that Yiannopolous recently 'incit[ed] racist and misogynistic abuse of an African American celebrity.' He also had mentioned shooting the journalists down.

Yiannopolous made clear that the motive was only to taunt and not an act of violence to reporters.

The city also argued that Yiannopolous had advocated pedophilia. He was disinvited from the 2017 CPAC event because he suggested that teenagers' and adults' consensual sexual relationships could be beneficial.

Yiannopolous defended that he was not advocating pedophilia and didn't refer to 'prepubescent boys.' He also added that he is a child sex abuse survivor.

Federal Judge Defends Speaker

Hollander wrote that Yiannopoulos calls the city's accusation 'revolting' and 'grotesque.'

"He is not the provocateur that he once was," and "he expressly condemned the use of violence," she added.

Hollander also noted that Yiannopolous' primary role at the event is "emcee," according to his testimony.

She remarked that Yiannopolous wants to speak about being 'raped' by a priest and wants to "help others confront their abusers and the enablers." 

Yiannopoulos also stated that he sees Catholic bishops as 'very lost' who fail their 'pastoral duties,' believing they should be held accountable rather than an 'enemy,' Hollander noted.

The judge said that the city had 'acted on an ad hoc basis' and canceled the event 'without standards.' Furthermore, St. Michaels 'is likely to succeed on its claim' for the city's "conduct was not viewpoint neutral."

She noted that "officials must act immediately to protect life and property" when emergencies arise regarding the city's argument about security concerns. Yet, Hollander wrote that "the matter at hand does not constitute an emergency."