ACLU Brings Suit on Behalf of Farmworkers
On May 1, the Farmworkers Support Committee (CATA) held an immgrant rights march in Bridgeton, New Jersey. This isn’t the first time the organization has sponsored an event in support of immigration reform, but this time the organization was in for a surprise, in the form of $1,800 in “police fees” and a $200 clean-up deposit.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ), the city ultimately agreed to waive the requirement that the fees be paid in advance, but indicated that CATA would be billed after the march. After the march, the rules changed once again, and CATA received a letter demanding an additional $1,500 in “additional police expenses”.
The ACLU-NJ lawsuit on behalf of CATA says that Bridgeton officials exercised “unfettered, arbitrary discretion” in billing CATA for police expenses. The city does not have an ordinance allowing it to impose fees for marches or parades.
Frank Corrado, who (on behalf of the ACLU-NJ) serves as pro bono counsel to CATA, said, “Imposition of these fees will mean that only the wealthy will be afforrded the right to speak out on issues, and our Constitution thankfully prohibits that.”
Although some restrictions on free speech, such as permit requirements and location restrictions, are allowed, the limitations must be “content neutral”–that is, they cannot act to prohibit one type of speech or the opinions of one group while allowing others.
