ADF: Detroit Police Harass Pro-Life Supporters, Shut Down Free Speech Outside Superbowl
Yoo hoo??? ACLU?
Where are you???
Looks like the pro-lifers will be defended by the ADF instead.
Alliance Defense Fund allied attorneys filed suit today against Detroit police for violating the free speech rights of six pro-life supporters, all of whom were harassed and later prevented from expressing their views outside the Superbowl in February 2006.
“Detroit police need to be reminded that free speech is the right of all Americans, not just a select few,” said ADF-allied attorney Ted Hoppe. “They clearly acted in violation of the Constitution when they chose to single out and squelch pro-life speech.”
After learning of the group’s plans to demonstrate Feb. 5, police first instructed them to move to the other side of the street. They were later told by a second officer that they would be restricted to a traffic island. Signs critical of abortion were confiscated after the group refused officers’ demands to turn them around.
Police also towed away a car bearing pictures of aborted children and impounded it for two days. Officers refused to provide their names and badge numbers when the protestors requested them. Officers did not approach other people with signs carrying various other messages.
One would think that an organization that prides itself as the protector of free speech would have been quick to the scene of political protestors, especially with accusations of police intimidation. If it would have been a nutcase cult protesting gay hate at a soldier’s funeral the ACLU would have found it speech worthy of protection.
Protesting abortion is another matter though. The abortion movement is the ACLU’s most lucrative project. Besides, it wouldn’t make much sense for the ACLU to protect speech they have actively fought to silence themselves.
Once again, the ACLU has a golden opportunity to prove me and other critics wrong about their double standards of free speech when it comes to abortion. If history proves true, they will let it pass and all we will hear from them is silence.
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