Background

This significant free speech lawsuit was originally filed on behalf of activists who were organizing a two-day vigil in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal at City Hall and were told by the City of Philadelphia that their permit application was rejected. The City had previously granted use of the space around City Hall to political favorites and corporate sponsored events, including for the Republican National Convention. After an emergency hearing, argued by Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, resulted in a Court Order in May 2001 requiring the City to grant the permit and allowing the demonstration to go forward, free speech advocates pursued the case with an Amended Complaint in order strike down Philadelphia’s illegal permitting scheme and challenge the youth ordinance. The matter was litigated in Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia-based NLG attorney Joseph Traub was co-counsel on the amended complaint.

In a major victory for free speech rights of political activists who seek to protest in Philadelphia, the Partnership for Civil Justice struck down the City of Philadelphia's unconstitutional permitting scheme and use of the Youth Curfew against those engaging in First Amendment activities.

On the eve of trial, the City of Philadelphia agreed to the relief sought by the PCJ, litigating also on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild.