I’m Michelle Smith, and on August 25, 2026, I was served with a trespass warning that barred me from two Florida State Forest offices that are open to the public. I believe this happened in retaliation for my complaints to the Florida Forest Service and Florida Department of Agriculture, and my attorney immediately filed a suit in federal court to defend my First Amendment rights. The warning threatened me with arrest and prosecution if I returned, yet I was given no hearing and no fair chance to contest it. I believe that violated my Fourteenth Amendment rights to procedural due process as well. This has been deeply personal and incredibly difficult, but I also believe it reaches beyond my own situation. To me, this is about constitutional accountability. The government must answer to the Constitution, because the Constitution limits the government, not the people.

I am asking for support as I continue this fight. Donations will help cover legal fees, court costs, and any other expenses related to defending my constitutional rights in this suit and in any future suits that may be necessary. Defending the First Amendment helps protect every citizen’s right to free speech, to criticize the government, and to seek redress without fear of retaliation. Just as importantly, due process protections matter because no one should face government threats of arrest without a meaningful opportunity to be heard. If you believe these rights matter, please consider supporting my fundraiser and sharing it with others. Your help will allow me to keep standing up for my rights and for the constitutional protections that belong to all of us.