ACLU files lawsuit over arrests at Santorum book signing

[cyberpj]

w/thanks to: struggle4progress Wed May-31-06 09:59 PM

ACLU files lawsuit over arrests at Santorum book signing
RANDALL CHASE
Associated Press

.. According to the lawsuit, the women went to a Barnes & Noble store at Concord Mall in Wilmington to challenge Santorum at an event advertised as a book signing and discussion of his book, "It Takes a Family."

The women were ordered to leave by a uniformed state trooper providing security at the event after a member of Santorum's promotional team overheard them talking before the Republican lawmaker arrived, according to the lawsuit.

"The advertisements said 'book signing and discussion,' not 'discussion only if you agree with the senator,'" said Julia Graff, staff attorney for the Delaware chapter of the ACLU, which joined with the Pennsylvania ACLU chapter in filing the lawsuit. "The trooper denied these women their right to share their views with an elected official. This is precisely the kind of conduct the First Amendment was designed to guard against." ..

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Delaware State Police Sgt. Mark DiJiacomo and the Santorum representative, identified only as "Jane Doe." ..

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/14709600.htm