Faison v. Jones (Free Speech)

The ACLU Foundation of Northern California filed suit against Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones on behalf of Black Lives Matter leaders who were unlawfully blocked from the sheriff's official Facebook page.

Tanya Faison and Sonia Lewis, co-leaders of Black Lives Matter Sacramento, have been vocal critics of the sheriff and other law enforcement officials. Both had comments deleted and were blocked from the sheriff's page during a critical time of public debate about whether the sheriff's department should be subjected to outside oversight.

The First Amendment and the California Constitution protect speech on Facebook just as they do in a public meeting or forum. 

The ACLU is seeking a ruling declaring Jones’ actions violate the First Amendment and California Constitution, and an injunction requiring Jones to unblock Faison and Lewis.

The case was filed in the Sacramento Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. 

Read More:

Sacramento Sheriff Sued for Censoring BLM Leaders on Facebook (January 30, 2019)