Arrest of Commenter at City Council Meeting for Accusing Police of Being "Fascist" and "Pro Domestic Abuse" Violated First Amendment

Arrest of Commenter at City Council Meeting for Accusing Police of Being "Fascist" and "Pro Domestic Abuse" Violated First Amendment

An excerpt from yesterday's long decision by Chief Judge Stephanie Rose (S.D. Iowa) in Petersen v. City of Newton: The...

Judge: City's arrest of critic is ‘quintessential viewpoint discrimination’

Noah Petersen in front of Newton’ City Hall. — courtesy of the Institute for Justice Declaring that a citizen was “targeted because he criticized the police department and city leadership,” a federal judge has ruled that the City of Newton violated the rights of a critic by twice having the man arrested at city council meetings. The decision means that Noah Petersen’s lawsuit against the city for violating his constitutional rights can proceed t…