Evangelicals for Harris campaign threatened with legal motion over use of Billy Graham images

The Evangelicals for Harris campaign has been threatened with legal motion after using footage of the late evangelist Billy Graham in adverts attacking Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. 

One Evangelicals for Harris ad features Graham delivering a sermon in 1988 wherein he tells the crowds, “But you will need to realise that within the last days, the times shall be stuffed with danger. Men will turn out to be utterly self-centred and greedy for money.”

It then switches to footage of Trump at one in every of his rallies, saying, “My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy. I’ve grabbed all the cash I could get. I’m so greedy.”

A cease-and-desist letter was sent to the campaign group by lawyers acting for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), which is run by Graham’s son Franklin Graham. 

The BGEA asserts that use of the footage is in breach of copyright. A spokesperson for the organisation said, “It could also be price noting that, in all of his years of ministry and across relationships with 11 US presidents, Billy Graham sought only to encourage them and to supply them the counsel of Christ, as revealed through God’s Word.

“He never criticised presidents publicly and would undoubtedly refuse to let his sermons be used to accomplish that, no matter who’s involved.”

Evangelicals for Harris has made a proper legal response wherein it dismisses the claims and says that “there is totally no basis to say that using this footage constitutes copyright infringement or some other violation of your rights”.

“Our ability to publicly discuss the moral failings of Donald Trump and the way his behaviour comports with the values espoused by evangelical leaders, including Billy Graham, is important First Amendment expression,” the letter reads.

“Our communications, our references to Billy Graham, and this larger discussion of our community’s values are absolutely critical to a healthy democracy.

“Your efforts to stop us from bringing Billy Graham’s perspectives to bear on today’s challenges are meritless, disappointingly cynical, and really much at odds along with his values.

“The call to repentance was a central pillar of the Billy Graham Crusades and his alter call [sic], and it’s inappropriate for BGEA to hunt to shield Donald Trump from it or prevent Americans from hearing Donald Trump reject it.” 

Evangelicals for Harris was founded by Rev Jim Ball, formerly related to the Evangelical Environmental Network and Evangelicals for Biden. Its members include Franklin Graham’s niece, Jerushah Duford. 

The response letter from Evangelicals for Harris concluded by saying that they’re prepared to go to court over the matter.

“Franklin has placed his hope in a person and a darkness we saw manifest when police lines were overrun at our nation’s Capitol on January 6, in Springfield this past month, and within the spirit of fear and anger fed at every Trump rally Franklin attends. Our hope is just not in any man or woman but in Christ alone,” the group said. 

“Our call is to serve, to witness Christ’s love and compassion, and to follow His example of standing between the hypocritical religious leaders and the social outcast. We know the law is on our side on this case. If Franklin follows through on his threats, we’ll see him in court.”