Suit Challenges Refusal To Permit Solstice Display at State Capitol

Yesterday the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers filed a federal court lawsuit against the Arkansas secretary of state challenging the state's refusal to allow the Freethinkers to install a temporary Winter Solstice display on the state capitol grounds. According to the complaint (full text) in Arkansas Society of Freethinkers v. Daniels, (ED AR, filed 12/10/2009), the only other temporary display currently on capitol grounds is a creche. Arkansas' written Policy on Temporary Displays on State Capitol Grounds sets out no guidelines on which displays will be permitted, except for a ban on any display blocking traffic. The lawsuit contends that the denial of plaintiffs' request was based solely on the secretary of state's unbridled discretion and unconstitutionally restricts access to a designated public forum by limiting displays to those that the Secretary of State personally finds acceptable as to content and viewpoint. Arkansas Blog has further background and reprints the Arkansas ACLU's press release on the case.