Press Release: ACLU Of Georgia Urges Lt. Governor To Stop HB 289, A Bill That Tramples The First Amendment, From Becoming Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 30, 2021
Media contact: Ana Maria Rosato media@acluga.org
ATLANTA – This afternoon, the ACLU of Georgia sent a letter Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan in strong opposition to HB 289, which, if passed, would violate Georgians’ freedoms of speech and assembly as guaranteed by Section I, paragraphs V and IX of the Georgia Constitution and by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
HB 289 attempts to punish Georgians for exercising their constitutional rights, and many of HB 289’s provisions raise serious constitutional concerns.
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HB 289 adds an unconstitutionally vague and over broad definition of unlawful assembly to Georgia’s Criminal Code.
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HB 289’s universal permit requirement is an unconstitutional prior restraint on speech.
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HB 289 incentivizes counties and municipalities to encourage aggressive police action against protestors and to violate protestors’ First Amendment rights.