Illinois City Council Bans Trump Shirt in Blatant Violation of the First Amendment

At the ACLJ, we are unwavering in our commitment to defending the constitutional liberties that form the bedrock of our nation. Recently, we took a bold step in protecting the First Amendment rights of Ms. Rosanna Pulido, a resident of Springfield, Illinois, who faced outrageous restrictions on her freedom of expression at a city council meeting.

The Case: A Nonsense T-Shirt Ban

On October 29, 2024, Ms. Pulido attended a Springfield City Council meeting wearing a “Chicanos for Trump” T-shirt. Despite her peaceful and orderly participation, she was singled out by a Springfield alderwoman, who cited a policy against “campaign materials” in the council chambers. Ms. Pulido was forced to either turn her shirt inside out or cover the message, despite no prior notice of such a rule and no legal basis for this restriction. Such an order was egregious – especially right before an election, when our political voices matter the most.

The Problem?

First, this rule is nowhere to be found in writing. Ms. Pulido wrote to the city council and the city’s attorney, asking what law was being enforced, and received no reply. Second, the rule is completely unconstitutional: Citizens can wear campaign T-shirts in public places.

The right to free speech, especially political speech, is a cornerstone of our democracy. The Supreme Court has consistently upheld that restrictions on speech in public forums must meet strict scrutiny. In this case, the Springfield City Council’s actions were not only unjust but also lacked any legal foundation. By standing up for Ms. Pulido, we are defending the broader principle that all citizens have the right to express their views without undue interference.

T-Shirts Are Non-Disruptive Speech

One of our first Supreme Court cases was our unanimous victory in Airport Commissioners v. Jews for Jesus, when Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow convinced all nine Justices that the state could not regulate non-disruptive speech like T-shirt slogans. Nearly 40 years later, some officials are still trying to tell people that they can’t express their opinions.

The government can’t regulate your speech’s content, period. When the city council opened up its doors to public participation, it included all voices, even “Chicanos for Trump.” Springfield City Council can’t pick which voices are heard, especially during the critical days leading up to important federal elections.

For those reasons, ACLJ sent a letter to the Springfield City Council demanding that it apologize to our client and promise to not do this again to anyone. If the council cannot commit to allowing free expression at its council meetings, the ACLJ is prepared to follow up with a lawsuit in federal court, making sure that Springfield’s citizens’ First Amendment liberties are protected.

How You Can Help

The right to free speech, especially political speech, is a cornerstone of our democracy. The Supreme Court has consistently upheld that restrictions on speech in public forums must meet strict scrutiny. In this case, the Springfield City Council’s actions were not only unjust but also lacked any legal foundation. By standing up for Ms. Pulido, we are defending the broader principle that all citizens have the right to express their views without undue interference.

We will keep you updated as we challenge these unconstitutional actions and work to ensure that the rights of Americans are protected. Take action with us to keep the Left from eviscerating your rights.