Case Status: Victory! - Settled on Favorable Terms
Advocate for Military Families Banned from Naval Base’s Facebook Page
Rodriguez v. Dull
Sergio Rodriguez is a prominent advocate for military families. He is also a retired veteran and a military spouse. During a power outage at a naval base, he posted helpful information and criticized Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay’s lack of response on the base’s official Facebook page. Naval officials then deleted his comments and blocked him from viewing and further posting on the public page.
VICTORY!
In a settlement, Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay acknowledged that blocking Rodriguez from the base’s Facebook page violated his First Amendment rights, and agreed to a base-wide prohibition on viewpoint-based censorship.
The settlement delivers concrete, enforceable policy changes that protect every member of the public who interacts with the base’s social media:
- Acknowledgment of the constitutional violation. The Navy has recognized that blocking Rodriguez from the base’s Facebook page violated his First Amendment rights—a significant concession that validates the lawsuit’s claims.
- A Base-wide prohibition on viewpoint-based censorship. Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay has confirmed that no personnel will ban or block members of the public from any social media page, or remove or hide their posts or comments because of the viewpoint expressed. This is not a promise limited to Rodriguez—it protects everyone.
- A public-facing policy statement on all base social media pages. Going forward, every base social media page must display the following notice:
“Posts and comments by members of the general public will not be removed, filtered, hidden, unpublished, blocked, or deleted based on the viewpoint expressed. Additionally, users, who are members of the general public, will not be banned or blocked based on the viewpoint expressed.”
This puts the public on notice of their rights and puts base officials on notice that those rights are enforceable. - A link to the U.S. Navy Social Media Handbook from the base Facebook page, ensuring the governing policy is publicly accessible.
- A forward-looking commitment. When revising its comment policies in the future, the base must continue to include a provision that users will not be blocked and comments will not be removed on the basis of the viewpoint expressed. This prevents future policy revisions from quietly walking back the protections won here.
Rodriguez’s Background as Advocate for Military Families
Rodriguez has received a Presidential commendation, the 2022 “Navy Spouse of the Year” award by Armed Forces Insurance, and other honors for his relentless advocacy for military families. Specifically, he focuses on improving housing conditions and advising military families on how to work within the military’s complex institutional systems to secure the support and accountability they deserve.
To stay informed about the needs of military families related to his advocacy, Rodriguez followed many official public Facebook pages dedicated to on-base housing, including Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.
When the base community was affected by a brutal summertime power outage, Rodriguez offered relevant, helpful advice for affected families on how to get compensated for spoiled perishables and find emergency housing due to the heat and humidity.
Officials responded to his practical advice by blocking Rodriguez from the page and deleting all of his posts.
CIR is representing Rodriguez, arguing that these actions violate Rodriguez’s First Amendment rights to free speech and public criticism of government officials.
Background: What is the First Amendment Right to Free Speech?
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from punishing or restricting a person’s expression because it disagrees with its content. These rules don’t change just because the speech is online.
The official naval base Facebook page is open to the public, and anyone is welcome to comment on all posts. Therefore, the base is required to allow all commenters—friends and critics alike—without censorship based on disagreement with the content of their speech. When the government opens a space for public discussion, even online, it can’t silence voices it doesn’t like. By blocking Rodriguez and deleting his comments, the Base engaged in unconstitutional censorship of free speech.
Why This Case Matters
This case isn’t about one person or one post—it’s about protecting everyone’s right to speak freely in government forums, especially when that speech is aimed at helping others. Rodriguez’s First Amendment right to comment on government actions was violated when the naval officers banned him from the public page for expressing his views.
This case highlights the need for clear constitutional protections regarding free speech on digital platforms maintained by the government. As government agencies use emerging communication platforms—including social media sites like Facebook and X—they have an obligation to do so without trampling on citizens’ constitutional right to free speech.
Key Legal Issues:
- First Amendment Violation:
Rodriguez’s right to free speech is at the heart of this case. Rodriguez was speaking as a private citizen on a public platform, which he is entitled to do under the Constitution. - Government-Sponsored Censorship:
When a government entity operates a public forum, it must allow open discussion. The Base’s decision to censor Rodriguez’s comments based solely on the content of his speech is a violation of government accountability to the people it serves. - Public Criticism of Government:
Rodriguez has spent years advocating for military families. The First Amendment protects his ability to criticize government officials and call attention to public issues without fear of retaliation or censorship.
Counsel
Updates on this case
Dec 2025
Blocked for Speaking Out: When Government Censors Go Digital
CIR now represents Sergio in Rodriguez v. Bohner, which challenges censorship in open public forums the government hosts.
News Releases related to this case
Sep 2026
Naval Base Acknowledges First Amendment Violation, Agrees to End Viewpoint Censorship on Official Social Media
The First Amendment doesn’t end where a government Facebook page begins. That’s the message of a favorable settlement…
Mar 2026
Federal Court Refuses to Let Navy Off the Hook for Banning Veteran Advocate from Military Facebook Page
Judge Rules First Amendment Case Against Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Can Proceed.
Jul 2025
CIR Sues Navy Officials, NC National Guard Challenging Government Censorship of Veterans
The First Amendment doesn’t end where a government Facebook page begins. That’s why we filed two lawsuits challenging government censorship of military veterans’ speech on official Facebook pages.
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