ACLU, Defiance reach deal over sidewalk messages
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union and the city of Defiance have reached a temporary deal over the city’s ban on sidewalk messages.
At issue is a Defiance ordinance that prohibits disfiguring sidewalks by painting words, names or ads.
The ACLU’s Ohio chapter is suing the city. The organization argues in a federal lawsuit that the law violates free speech rights and also shouldn’t apply to chalk messages. The group wants a judge to stop enforcement of the ordinance.
The issue arose last year when members of an Occupy group were threatened with arrest for writing chalk messages the night before the city’s Halloween parade.
Under an agreement filed today, the city has granted the group a permit to write messages. It will remain effective while the court weighs the case.