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Lawsuit Filed Over City "Banning" Protesters

Occupy Austin protesters at City Hall on October 28, 2011.
Photo by KUT News
Occupy Austin protesters at City Hall on October 28, 2011.

Two members of the Occupy Austin protest have filed a lawsuit against the city, after they were banned from returning to City Hall Plaza. 

Rudy Sanchez and Kris Sleeman were arrested at City Hall in October and told they could not return.

They filed a lawsuit in federal court this morning, alleging the city's "ban" infringes on their First Amendment rights.

"It's really ironic, in a city that prides itself, supposedly, on its free-speech activities, we end up seeing them ban people from the free speech plaza," said Jim Harrington, one of the attorneys for the protesters filing the suit. "It's just shameful, I think, that this is going on."

The lawsuit asks the court to stop the city from banning people from City Hall Plaza.

A city spokesman says the city has been served with the lawsuit, but had no further comment, citing a policy of not discussing on-going litigation.

However, the city says since October 30th, 81 people have been issued criminal trespass notices and told not to return to City Hall.

Matt Largey is the Projects Editor at KUT. That means doing a little bit of everything: editing reporters, producing podcasts, reporting, training, producing live events and always being on the lookout for things that make his ears perk up. Got a tip? Email him at mlargey@kut.org. Follow him on Twitter @mattlargey.
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