ACLU Sues City of Bel-Nor For Free Speech Violation

ST. LOUIS, MO — The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri has sued a small suburb of St. Louis for restricting free speech in the form of political yard signs. The group is representing Lawrence Wilson, a local homeowner facing a $1,000 fine and up to 90 days in jail for violating a city ordinance prohibiting signs on windows and walls and limiting yard signs to one per parcel of land.

“This overbroad and vague ordinance is a clear violation of the constitutional right to free speech,” said Tony Rothert, the group's legal director. “Bel-Nor has chosen to criminalize the speech of the people it serves.”

In June, Wilson found a warning on his door from police advising him of the city ordinance. The ACLU contacted the city on his behalf and argued the ordinance was a violation of the First Amendment. According to a statement from the organization, the mayor of Bel-Nor contacted Wilson and informed him of the city's intention to repeal the ordinance.

Last September, the city indeed repealed the law's language regarding political advertising, but reaffirmed its ban on yard signs. "The ordinance is worded so broadly that — in addition to yard signs — it criminalizes the display of Christmas lights, rainbow flags, and Post-it notes for the mail carrier," the ACLU says.

The city's prosecuting attorney is now going after Wilson for violating the updated law — he has three yard signs, two more than allowed.

“I’m disappointed in the city’s actions,” Wilson said. “I want to stand up for my rights and my neighbors’ rights to free speech, just like the Constitution says.”

Wilson and the ACLU will go before a judge Wednesday.

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