MINNEAPOLIS – The American Civil Liberties Union - Minnesota is going to court against the City of Minneapolis. The issue is a freedom of speech concern around the July 15th All-Star Game at Target Field.
The disagreement stems from a resolution passed by the City Council in February that prohibited many public displays including parades, banners, signs and political events from July 5-20. At issue is the 80th anniversary of a pivotal moment in the history of organized labor in Minnesota.
"July 20, 1934, was an event known as "Bloody Friday," said Jim McGuire, plaintiff in the ACLU lawsuit, "Word went out that a truck was being run in the market district. As they had done many times before, worker's mobilized to intercept the truck. It was a trap. The (Minneapolis) Police opened fire at unarmed picketers. They shot 67 people, causing many permanent injuries. Two were killed. We know with certainty that most of these people were shot in the back."
McGuire, joined with Robert Kolstad, appeared as plaintiffs in the ACLU of Minnesota's lawsuit against the City of Minneapolis. Officially, the lawsuit includes Minneapolis Mayor Besty Hodges and Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau.
The "Clean Zone" resolution requires that Major League Baseball agrees before permits would be issued for the public displays on the above dates, which include the 80th anniversary of the "Bloody Friday" event.
"The "Clean Zone" encompasses all of downtown Minneapolis, a portion of Northeast Minneapolis and a portion of the University of Minnesota's campus," said Charles Samuelson, Executive Director of the ACLU of Minnesota.
"The Pohlads', the Steinbrenners', and Bud Selig do not get to decide when, where and how we commemorate this important part of our history," said McGuire.
"The case has been assigned to Chief Judge Michael Davis," said Tom Hamlin, cooperating attorney and partner of the Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi law firm. "Our clients wish to have a street festival on July 19th commemorating the 1934 teamsters strike and specifically 'Bloody Friday."
Hamlin said the "Clean Zone" resolution is "a clear violation of the right to freedom of speech guaranteed by the 1st and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution. That right is sacred to our democracy and must be protected."
The City of Minneapolis responded to KARE 11 News with a written statement from Casper Hill of the Communications Department:
"We have not yet seen the lawsuit, so we cannot comment on any specific concerns in the suit. I can say that it has always been the City's intention to follow all requirements of the First Amendment. We will not and would not violate free speech right, regardless of the presence of the All-Star Game or any other national event occurring in our city. I reached out to the ACLU today (Thursday) to reassure them of our intention and offered to meet with them so we can discuss any concerns they have."
