ACLU sues South Dakota over state's protest laws
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of South Dakota over three protest laws that it says chill free speech.
The lawsuit is challenging South Dakota's new law allowing the state to sue any person or organization for "riot boosting" or encouraging a protest where acts of violence occur, which Gov. Kristi Noem signed into law on Wednesday as part of a legislation package aimed at Keystone XL pipeline protests. The lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday is also challenging the state's two existing criminal riot laws on which the new riot boosting law is based.
The lawsuit is asking for the state's riot boosting law and criminal riot statutes to be found unconstitutional. Additionally, the plaintiffs are asking for the state to be immediately prohibited from enforcing the three laws while the case proceeds in court.
Noem is committed to upholding the laws as a way to protect the people, counties, environment and the state, according a statement from her administration.
Read more: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/28/aclu-sues-south-dakota-over-states-protest-laws/3302332002/