Arabic Christian Perspective, a group whose goal is to convert Muslims to Christianity, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Dearborn (MI) police department which has told the group that its members cannot pass out handbills by walking freely through the 4 to 5 block Dearborn Arab International Festival that will be held this weekend. Yesterday's Detroit News reported that the group wanted its 90 volunteers to have unlimited access. Organizers of the Festival say that the group is welcome to rent a booth, but that safety is impaired if large numbers of people move throughout the festival handing out flyers. Arabic Christian Perspective says that it has a constitutional right to use public sidewalks in the Festival area to give out the flyers.
UPDATE: Here is the complaint in Arabic Christian Perspective v. City of Dearborn, (ED MI, filed 6/16/2009). On Thursday, the court refused to grant a temporary restraining order to prevent Dearborn from restricting ACP and its founder Pastor George Saieg from passing out Christian literature at the Festival. (Right Side News). The Detroit News on Thursday reports that ACP will still be able to have a presence at the Festival at a fixed location, like other groups. ACP's attorney said the group will continue to pursue the case, even though the denial of the TRO effectively settles the issue for this year.
