ACLU files lawsuit against new House restrictions against signs during House activities
Three women were escorted out of a subcommittee hearing by troopers
UPDATE: A Chancery Court in Davidson County has granted a temporary restraining order against the sign ban at the Tennessee House of Representatives, as requested in an ACLU filing.
NASHVILLE (WDEF) – The American Civil Liberties Union has already filed a lawsuit over the expulsion of three people from a Special Session House subcommittee meeting yesterday.
State troopers ushered out three women with connections to the Covenant School Shooting who were holding protest signs in the meeting.
House members also say they applauded bills they supported.
Republicans have issued new restrictions on public participation and protest for the special session on school safety.
“These rules are unreasonable,” said ACLU-TN Legal Director Stella Yarbrough. “The Tennessee House’s ban on silently holding signs in House galleries directly undermines Tennesseans’ First Amendment right to express their opinions on issues that affect them and their families.”
But the restrictions go back to protests at the last legislative session.
Protestors created disruptions in the gallery of legislative sessions to voice their disapproval.
The controversy led to the ouster of three Democratic lawmakers from the legislative. They have since been returned to Nashville by voters.
And it goes back even further to noisy Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Nashville before.
So before the special session even began on Monday, bus loads of state troopers were brought in to keep order.
The ACLU lawsuit filed on behalf of Allison Polidor, Erica Bowton and Maryam Abolfazli, is asking for an emergency injunction to stop the new rule against holding signs during House of Representative proceedings.
“I have a close friend whose son was a third grader at The Covenant School last year. I spent most of the day on March 27, 2023 not knowing whether my friend’s son was dead or alive. He survived, but his life, and so many others, will forever be marked by this tragedy,” said plaintiff Allison Polidor. “On August 22, 2023 I joined with so many other moms from across Tennessee to urge our lawmakers to enact common sense gun laws. I was removed for peacefully holding a small sign, and exercising my First Amendment rights. What started as a debate on gun safety has morphed into a blatant violation of my First Amendment rights.”
“As a parent, I am deeply concerned about gun violence in Tennessee. I came to the Capitol to watch the proceedings and express my concerns about gun safety,” said plaintiff Maryam Abolfazli. “But the House’s new rule on signs prevents me from expressing what I believe to the very people elected to represent me. I joined this lawsuit to ensure that Tennesseans’ right to voice their opinions to lawmakers is protected.”
