(AP) – A federal judge is prohibiting Arkansas from enforcing
its anti-begging law.
U.S. District Judge Billy Joe Wilson on Tuesday agreed with the American Civil
Liberties Union of Arkansas that the law unconstitutionally restricts freedom of
speech.
Wilson wrote that regulating speech based on content must promote a compelling
government interest and said banning all begging everywhere by everyone “does
not come close to chinning this bar.”
The ACLU says it filed the lawsuit against Arkansas State Police director Col.
Bill Bryant on behalf of Michael Rodgers, a veteran convicted of loitering with
intent to beg, and Glynn Dilbeck, a homeless man cited for begging to help pay
his daughter’s medical bills.
Wilson wrote that Rodgers’ conviction was overturned by a circuit court and
that charges against Dilbeck were dismissed.
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