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Florida case yields park witnessing rights for Christian

A lawsuit that was filed against Orange County, Florida, by a woman seeking the right to freely distribute literature in a county park has yielded results.

On Tuesday the county dropped a prohibition against litigant Shirley Snyder that barred her from distributing religious tracts and flyers at Cypress Grove Park. As a result, the county has moved to change its Parks and Recreation policy.

While at the Cypress Grove Park on April 1, Snyder was attempting to pass out flyers inviting attendance at her church's Easter service. She was informed by a county employee, and later by the park supervisor, that non-approved distribution of literature was prohibited -- prompting the lawsuit.

Snyder's legal firm, Liberty Counsel, says a park official filed an affidavit in federal court this week that indicated Snyder would not be prevented from passing out literature during normal park hours regardless whether she had park officials' permission.

Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver says Snyder's lawsuit alleges that the original policy was unconstitutional. "You don't have to get permission from the government or any government committee before distributing literature in a public park. History and the courts have for a long time protected literature distribution and free speech in the public park," says Staver.

The affidavit also showed the County's board of commissioners amended the official Parks and Recreation Division Rules and Regulations for everyone under the same conditions as Snyder.

According to a press release by the Liberty Counsel, Snyder is scheduled to have the first hearing on her lawsuit on August 17. The lawsuit will address damages incurred by the County's original ban on literature distribution.