WallBuilders is a Texas-based non-profit group that seeks to educate the public about the role that the Founding Fathers' Christian faith played in the creation of the nation and the drafting of the Constitution.

Last summer, WallBuilders decided to launch an advertising campaign in DC and requested to place ads on the side of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) buses.

WMATA rejected the ads claiming they violated its advertising guidelines, which prohibit advertising "intended to influence members of the public regarding an issue on which there are varying public opinions."

What's in the ads?

One ad features Henry Brueckner's image of George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge with the phrase, "CHRISTIAN?" at the bottom. The ad includes an invitation to visit WallBuilders.com to "find out about the faith of our Founders," along with a QR code.

The second ad depicts a well-known painting of the signing of the US Constitution, with identical language. The original painting hangs in the US Capitol.

After the ads were initially rejected, WallBuilders requested more guidance from WMATA to change the display, but the transit authority did not respond.

WallBuilders assumed the issue was with the word, "Christian" and removed the phrase along with the reference to the "Faith of the Founders" and resubmitted the ads.

The revised ads were also rejected with no further explanation.

In a rare example of agreement, the case actually brought together free speech advocates from the right and the left.

Last December, the non-profit legal group First Liberty, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of the District of Columbia, and the law firm of Steptoe, LLP filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of WallBuilders challenging WMATA advertising restrictions as violations of the First Amendment.

The lawsuit argued that two of the transit authority's policies, Guidelines 9 and 12, violated First Amendment rights.

Guideline 9 prohibits advertisements intended to influence people on an issue where there are "varying opinions" and guideline 12 prohibits advertisements that promote or oppose any religion, practice or belief, Courthouse News Service reported.

However, the First Amendment prohibits government agencies from discriminating against private speech based on viewpoints or from imposing unreasonable restrictions on speech.

According to First Liberty, this is the second free speech lawsuit filed by the ACLU challenging WMATA's advertising guidelines claiming the transit authority has discriminated against a variety of viewpoints.

For example, WMATA allowed an Instacart ad promoting "Plan B," an over-the-counter contraceptive. But in 2017, WMATA rejected an ad for an abortion pill from the ACLU's client Carafem.

Additionally, an ACLU ad displaying the text of the First Amendment in multiple languages was also rejected by the transportation authority.

US District Judge Beryl Howell issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday ruling that WMATA's ban on issue ads violates the First Amendment's requirement that restrictions on speech be reasonable.

Howell noted that WMATA's guideline 9 was "vague" and also pointed out that the transit authority was inconsistent when applying it.

"To be clear, WMATA is permitted to retain considerable discretion in evaluating the intent and purpose of an ad, but this discretion must be coupled with objective, workable standards," Howell wrote in her opinion.

Howell also noted that WallBuilders could challenge the constitutionality of Guideline 12, and Liberty Counsel noted litigation will continue on the issue.

Meanwhile, the non-profit legal group is applauding the judge's ruling.

"The First Amendment grants all Americans the right to express their point of view, religious or secular," said First Liberty Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys.

"Rejecting a faith-based advertising banner by labeling it an 'issue ad,' while accepting other ads such as those promoting a 'Social Justice School,' 'Earth Day,' and the highly controversial idea of terms limits for Supreme Court Justices, is clearly hypocritical, discriminatory, and illegal," he continued.

"We are grateful that the court recognized that WMATA unconstitutionally rejected WallBuilders' ads and look forward to continuing to fight for complete victory," Dys added.

And while the ACLU has a lawsuit against WMATA still pending, they say they are also pleased with Howell's ruling.

"We are pleased that this ruling moves us one step closer to ending WMATA's arbitrary censorship of speech about public issues," said Arthur Spitzer, Senior Counsel at the ACLU-DC "In a democracy, the government has no right to pick and choose which viewpoints are acceptable. This case is about expanding everyone's freedom to express their views without unreasonable government interference." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Talia Wise has served as a multi-media producer for CBNNews.com, CBN Newswatch, The Prayer Link, and CBN News social media outlets.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

On Flag Day, Remembering the Woman Who Sewed Old Glory into Existence

5 Ways to Be Salt and Light during Pride Month

TV Station Fires Staffer over 'Straight Pride' Post

William 'Lia' Thomas Loses Challenge to Rule Banning Him from Women's Olympic Contests

Monstrous Massachusetts Bill Would Allow Moms to Sell Their Unborn Children to the Highest Bidder

Diplomats Say Biden's G7 Behavior 'The Worst They've Ever Seen': [Watch]

Supreme Court Strikes Down ATF Ban on Bump Stocks

It Just Got Harder for Democrats to Steal Michigan in November

House Republicans Vote to Hold AG Garland in Contempt

Russell Brand Walks Readers Through 'Mere Christianity,' Will Tour With Tucker Carlson

Southern Baptists Reject Formal Ban on Churches with Woman Pastors, Oppose IVF

Artist, Worship Leader Files Lawsuit against Anti-Christian City Council in Spokane

Chicago Doubles Education Spending, Tragedy Ensues.

Biden's Migration Crisis Has Imported Venezuelan Gang 'Tren de Aragua' Crime Wave into US

Hezbollah Launches Record Missile Volley at Israel after Commander's Killing, Hamas Kills Ceasefire Plan

Biden Vetoes Chance to Give US Troops a Pay Raise Despite Spending 7 Times More on Ukraine

Supreme Court Delivers Unanimous Procedural Ruling on Abortion Drugs

Shock: 7th-Grader and Sisters Expelled from School Following Principal's Controversial Decision to Limit Their Patriotic Free Speech

Popular Fitness Center Memo Labels Pride, BLM Symbols 'Freedom of Expression,' But Bans American Flag Except on Holidays

Nashville Shooter's Manifesto Released