Nikki Haley May Have Violated Occupy Protesters' Free Speech Rights, Court Finds

[marmar]

A group of Occupy protesters suing South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) over their ejection from the State House grounds have a "viable" claim that she violated their First Amendment rights, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday.

Nineteen Occupy Columbia protesters were camped out on November 16, 2011 when Haley had them arrested on two hours notice. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals found Monday that their arrest may have been unconstitutional, because they were arrested without a formal rule change banning sleeping, and so their lawsuit can continue.

Fourteen of the protesters sued Haley in 2011, stating, "The reason why the Occupy protests are so controversial and uncomfortable for governmental officials to endure is that it is the most persuasive form of peaceful, nonviolent protest."

"What Governor Haley objects to is Plaintiffs' message and she would not have evicted Plaintiffs if she were aligned with Plaintiffs," their suit said. .........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/17/nikki-haley-occupy-protesters_n_4462066.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000037