Colorado Springs faces legal action over downtown solicitation ban

Posted: 11.28.2012 at 3:02 PM

Colorado Springs City councilmembers voted 8-1 to approve the "no solicitation zone downtown. / FOX21: file photo

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (AP) -- A panhandling ban on its way to Colorado Springs faces a legal challenge from the Colorado ACLU.

The civil-liberties group announced Wednesday that it has filed a lawsuit to block the ban, which they say stifles speech.

The Colorado Springs city council gave final approval to the ban covering 12 blocks downtown. The ACLU legal challenge was filed in federal court in Denver.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include street musicians, advocacy groups and a wheelchair-bound panhandler.

ACLU legal director Mark Silverstein said in a statement that the panhandling ban is too broad and suppresses speech.

Related Links

		City council gives final approval to panhandling law
		No Solicitation Zone moves forward
		Police say new homeless population is younger and more aggressive

PANHANDLING

Should panhandling be allowed in downtown Colorado Springs?

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