KFOR-TV has filed a lawsuit in federal court against state officials who have repeatedly denied the station’s journalists access to public meetings and press conferences, according to a press release Monday.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, alleges that Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters and Oklahoma Department of Education Press Secretary Dan Isett blocked KFOR-TV reporters from attending Oklahoma Department of Education meetings and Secretary Walters’ press conferences.

Despite having valid press credentials from the Legislative Services Bureau, KFOR-TV journalists claim they have been “consistently denied access to these public events while other media outlets are granted full access.” The lawsuit argues that this practice violates the station’s First Amendment rights and limits its ability to report on matters of public interest.

The press release states that state officials did not explain the ban, but “made vague references to the fact that KFOR-TV is not a ‘legitimate’ news channel.” The lawsuit is intended to prevent state officials from denying access to the press because it is supposedly “legitimate” or expresses their opinions.

The lawsuit seeks to obtain an immediate injunction against the further blocking of the station’s journalists in order to ensure equal access for all accredited media representatives and to prevent future exclusions based on viewpoints, the press release states.