Mississippi City Sued By Preachers Who Were Kept Off Sidewalk

On Friday, the Alliance Defense Fund filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Wiggins, Mississippi and various of its officials on behalf of two Christian preachers who were threatened with arrest for carrying signs and engaging in religious speech on a public sidewalk using a microphone and amplification system. The complaint (full text) says that police told the individuals that they were violating the city's noise ordinance, its sign ordinance, were obstructing traffic and endangering public safety. Police told the two Christian evangelists to obtain a permit, but they were later told that the city did not have a permit system. The complaint alleges that the city's conduct violated the 1st and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as provisions of the state constitution protecting speech and assembly.