Posted on Sep 14, 2023
The Kansas Supreme Court could strike down a Wichita ordinance used to arrest a protester
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Gabrielle Griffie was charged with disorderly conduct in Wichita after a 2020 protest. Her lawyers say that violates her First Amendment rights.
TOPEKA, Kansas — Kansas Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical Tuesday of a Wichita city ordinance used to justify arresting a protester.
They will decide whether the ordinance is a violation of First Amendment rights.
In 2020, Gabrielle Griffie led a protest over the death of George Floyd. The group marched through Wichita, even walking through streets and blocking some traffic. The demonstration ended at the steps of the federal courthouse.
Nobody was arrested the day of the protest. But Wichita Police watched social media videos after it happened and charged Griffie with disorderly conduct for blocking traffic.
Court documents say the streets were almost entirely empty, but one car had a brief interaction with protesters. Griffie did not interact with the car, but she helped set up the event.
At the heart of the debate is a city ordinance outlawing "noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others." That was used to justify her charge.
TOPEKA, Kansas — Kansas Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical Tuesday of a Wichita city ordinance used to justify arresting a protester.
They will decide whether the ordinance is a violation of First Amendment rights.
In 2020, Gabrielle Griffie led a protest over the death of George Floyd. The group marched through Wichita, even walking through streets and blocking some traffic. The demonstration ended at the steps of the federal courthouse.
Nobody was arrested the day of the protest. But Wichita Police watched social media videos after it happened and charged Griffie with disorderly conduct for blocking traffic.
Court documents say the streets were almost entirely empty, but one car had a brief interaction with protesters. Griffie did not interact with the car, but she helped set up the event.
At the heart of the debate is a city ordinance outlawing "noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others." That was used to justify her charge.
The Kansas Supreme Court could strike down a Wichita ordinance used to arrest a protester
Posted from kcur.org
Protest
Wichita
1st Amendment
Freedom of Speech
Posted 8 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The ordinance has already survived lower court challenges after the Court of Appeals sided with the city. The judges, in a split decision, said someone is only charged if they are knowingly disruptive.
In the appeals court's dissenting opinion, judges agreed with Griffie’s lawyers and said the local ordinance is too broad. They also noted that blocking traffic is not a type of disorderly conduct and the ordinance used to justify the fine never mentions blocking traffic as a violation."...
..."The ordinance has already survived lower court challenges after the Court of Appeals sided with the city. The judges, in a split decision, said someone is only charged if they are knowingly disruptive.
In the appeals court's dissenting opinion, judges agreed with Griffie’s lawyers and said the local ordinance is too broad. They also noted that blocking traffic is not a type of disorderly conduct and the ordinance used to justify the fine never mentions blocking traffic as a violation."...
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