For over a decade, Brian Johnson has peaceably passed out Bibles during Minneapolis' Twin Cities Pride Festival, but if he tries it again this year, he fears, he could be arrested.
Through some clever legal wrangling, Twin Cities Pride, the organizers of the annual festival celebrating homosexuality, have convinced the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to allow them to exile anyone attempting to distribute Bibles or communicate unapproved messages at the event to a "no pride zone" far away from the festivities.
Now Johnson is filing a federal lawsuit against the Board, claiming it can't banish First Amendment free speech rights to a 10 x 10 square off the beaten path, especially during a major public event in which organizers have a non-exclusive permit to use the park.
The next Pride Fest is scheduled for June 23 and 24, 2012.
City banishes Bibles during ‘gay’ fest
Through some clever legal wrangling, Twin Cities Pride, the organizers of the annual festival celebrating homosexuality, have convinced the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to allow them to exile anyone attempting to distribute Bibles or communicate unapproved messages at the event to a "no pride zone" far away from the festivities.
Now Johnson is filing a federal lawsuit against the Board, claiming it can't banish First Amendment free speech rights to a 10 x 10 square off the beaten path, especially during a major public event in which organizers have a non-exclusive permit to use the park.
The next Pride Fest is scheduled for June 23 and 24, 2012.
City banishes Bibles during ‘gay’ fest
