DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) β A federal appeals court has agreed to take another look at a First Amendment claim made by Christian evangelists who were told to leave an Arab-American street festival or be ticketed by police in suburban Detroit.
It’s rare for the full appeals court to rehear a case. Appeals are handled by three-judge panels at the Cincinnati-based court. But the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has set aside a 2-1 decision from August. In that opinion, a panel said sheriff’s deputies didn’t violate the free speech rights of a group called Bible Believers.
The dissenting judge said that while the preaching was offensive, police should have tried “to control the lawlessness” of the crowd instead of stifling free speech.
In 2012, members were pelted with rocks after they denounced Islam, carried a pig’s head and called Muhammad a false prophet. Wayne County authorities said they threatened to ticket the evangelists because they were concerned about safety.
