Friday March 29th, 2024 5:53AM

ACLU threatens to sue Oakwood over police actions during protest July 1

The American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLU), on behalf of the Young Democrats of Hall County, is threatening a lawsuit over police actions allegedly taken by the Oakwood Police Department during a protest near the University of North Georgia campus July 1.

The ACLU alleges that police officers responding to the protest violated the protesters' First Amendment rights by telling them that all signs had to be pre-approved by the Oakwood Police Department, protesters needed to obtain a peddler's license and the group needed a permit to protest on the sidewalk, ACLU representatives wrote in a letter dated Thursday.

ACLU representatives said the city's sign ordinance is unconstitutionally overbroad, its peddler's license does not apply to protesters and its protest permit code does not exist, and therefore the police officers' actions were violating the protester's First Amendment rights.

Oakwood City Manager Stan Brown said the city will not be releasing any public comment on the matter, and said in an email to AccessWDUN that the matter has been turned over to the city attorney.

The letter is addressed to Mayor Lamar Scroggs and Oakwood Police Chief Randall Moon.

The protest, the ACLU said, contained about 11 people at the corner of Ga. 53 and Old Mundy Mill Road, protesting the campus carry legislation passed this year by the Georgia General Assembly and approved by Gov. Nathan Deal.

The protesters were apparently holding "hand-held signs that were no bigger than a poster board."

"We request that the City of Oakwood and the Oakwood Police Department take prompt action to ensure that this does not happen again, and we are happy to discuss these matters and work with you to achieve that goal. If, however, you do not respond within 30 days of receiving this letter, we reserve the right to bring legal action," the letter from ACLU of Georgia Legal Director Sean J. Young states.

"We are happy to provide any help or cooperation necessary to help resolve this situation without resorting to litigation. However, if you do not respond to this letter within 30 days, either in writing or otherwise, we will be prepared to take whatever legal action is required to defend the First Amendment."

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News, Georgia News
  • Associated Tags: hall county, oakwood, lawsuit, ACLU, First Amendment
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