ACLU Applauds Repeal of St. Charles Funeral Protest Ban

The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri released a statement last week applauding the city council's repeal of an ordinance that they say had "good intentions" but was a violation of free speech.

READ MORE: St. Charles City Council Approves Funeral Picketing Ban

The ordinance was adopted in January of 2011. Nine days later, the ACLU-EM filed for a temporary injunction of behalf of its clients, the Westboro Baptist Church. 

“While city officials often have good intentions when they develop ordinances aimed at limiting the speech of one group, they don’t realize that they are infringing on the free speech of all,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU-EM. 

The St. Charles City Council repealed the ordinance on July 2.

“We are pleased the City of St. Charles Council recognized that this ordinance was unconstitutional and took action to repeal it.”

Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the ACLU-EM, said, “The government cannot prohibit speech at public places, no matter how vehemently the majority of the public disagrees with that message.”