Civil Liberties

ACLU, Ohio Town Reach Deal on Sidewalk Chalk Ban

Occupy group had been threatened with arrest

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The American Civil Liberties Union and a northwest Ohio city have reached a temporary deal over the city's ban on sidewalk messages.

At issue is an ordinance in the city of Defiance that prohibits disfiguring sidewalks by painting words, names or ads.

The ACLU's Ohio chapter is suing the city. The organization argues in a federal lawsuit that the law violates free speech rights and also shouldn't apply to chalk messages. The group wants a judge to stop enforcement of the ordinance.