Suit Challenges Library Meeting Room Rules

In a lawsuit filed last Tuesday, a Christian advocacy group has challenged rules regarding the use of meeting rooms at the Lawrence, Massachusetts public library.  The complaint (full text) in Liberty Counsel, Inc. v. City of Lawrence, Massachusetts, (D MA, filed 6/30/2015), challenges the Meeting Room Policy which provides: "Political and religious groups may use the Library’s meeting rooms for administrative purposes but shall not be allowed use for the sake of proselytizing, campaigning, or otherwise influencing people to a particular belief or point of view." The policy also prohibits use of meeting rooms for religious services.  The complaint alleges that the policy violates the 1st and 14th Amendments as well as provisions of the state constitution. A Liberty Counsel press release announced the filing of the lawsuit.