Challenge to Anti-Speech Law in Michigan

I want to bring to your attention a lawsuit and emergency injunction we have filed to strike down a Michigan criminal statute that can be used to silence all forms of free speech, including political and religious speech.

We represent Ronald Brock who travels the public roads of this country in a truth truck, a vehicle on which he displays large signs and photographs to express various messages, including a message about the crimes against humanity that have occurred and continue to occur in this country and elsewhere. 

Ron was displaying a photograph of the victims of the Nazi Holocaust to demonstrate its parallel with Americas Holocaust of abortion.  Because of his Nazi Holocaust display, he was threatened with arrest and prosecution under Michigan Compiled Law 750.38, which makes it a misdemeanor for any person to display on private or public property, any sign, picture, or other representation of murder, assassination, fighting, personal violence, or the commission of a crime.

To protect Rons interests and those of other citizens, we have filed a lawsuit to have the Michigan law struck down in its entirety.  According to Senior Counsel Ed White, under the law, a person can be arrested and prosecuted for publicly displaying a painting of Jesus Christ being flogged, or for publicly displaying the famous photograph of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald, and even for publicly displaying the front page of the local newspaper that includes a photograph of a bank robbery.

In our view this law is clearly unconstitutional.  We are hopeful that the court will rule on our emergency motion soon.  We will keep you apprised of this case as it develops.