ACLU files First Amendment lawsuit against Woonsocket mayor

PROVIDENCE — The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island on Thursday announced that it has filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt for banning some of her critics from her Facebook page.

The ACLU filed the suit on behalf of Woonsocket residents Greg Duhamel and Thomas Dubois, who say they were blocked from commenting on the mayor’s Facebook page after they questioned or criticized her.

The lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Providence, claims the mayor violated their First Amendment rights to speak in a public forum and petition their government for a redress of grievances.

“Just as public officials may not preclude persons from participating in the public-comment portion of a town hall meeting based on their viewpoints, Mayor Baldelli-Hunt cannot ban users from the @LISABALDELLIHUNT Facebook page because she dislikes their opinions,” the lawsuit states.

Read more: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/05/metro/aclu-files-first-amendment-lawsuit-against-woonsocket-mayor/