Brigham City Suspends Enforcement of Free Speech Ordinance: Free Speech For All Returns to Brigham City
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2012
SALT LAKE CITY— As of 6:30 p.m. today, Brigham City, Utah has agreed not to enforce its “Free Speech Zone Ordinance” that was challenged in federal court just two days ago by the ACLU of Utah, on behalf of Main Street Church of Brigham City. Since 6:30 p.m. today, representatives of the Main Street Church have been peacefully handing out their literature on the public sidewalks surrounding the LDS Temple. The Main Street Church agreed to limit the number of its representatives to four on each side of the street.
This agreement does not suspend the lawsuit filed against Brigham City. Main Street Church and the ACLU of Utah have not conceded that any past enforcement of the ordinance was constitutional. They also continue to contend that the ordinance is unconstitutional on its face and that it should be completely struck down by the court.
“We are thrilled that our clients are no longer being banned from public sidewalks merely because they would like to express their views, assemble, and freely exercise their religion,” said John Mejia, Legal Director of the ACLU of Utah.
