Back in March 2020, when the pandemic was just beginning, a teenager named Mia Johnson experienced symptoms like a fever and cough, leading her doctor to advise her to isolate. Unfortunately, due to limited testing availability at the time, Mia couldn’t get tested. Fast forward to her recovery, and she made a now-deleted post on Instagram proclaiming that she had overcome the virus. However, this post caught the attention of local authorities in her Wisconsin town.
According to the police, Mia’s social media update caused public unrest, prompting Officer Jake Miller to visit her home. In dash cam footage, he requested that she remove the post and clarify that she was never positive for COVID. A family member explained that while Mia had been treated for COVID symptoms, she ultimately tested negative later. The officer insisted that if the post wasn’t taken down, he would be forced to issue disorderly conduct citations or even arrest them.
Mia, feeling overwhelmed by the situation, shared, “I just wanted people to know I was better after being sick.” The family stood firm, refusing to retract the post, which ultimately led to a federal lawsuit claiming a violation of Mia’s freedom of speech.
In a ruling on September 24, 2021, Judge Alex Turner sided with Mia, stating that demanding the removal of her protected speech was a clear First Amendment violation. He emphasized that the First Amendment should remain intact, regardless of the circumstances.
Mia has since fully recovered and returned to her normal teenage life. Her mother, Sarah Johnson, expressed her desire to prevent others from undergoing a similar ordeal.
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Summary
A teenager’s Instagram post about recovering from COVID-19 prompted local police to threaten her with arrest, arguing it caused public panic. After refusing to delete the post, the family filed a lawsuit claiming a violation of free speech. A judge ruled in their favor, affirming the teen’s right to express herself.