TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A civil rights group said Monday it has resolved a lawsuit challenging a blanket ban on signs and restrictive permits for protests at the Kansas Statehouse.
Under the terms of the dismissal, individuals and groups no longer need a permit or a legislative sponsor to reserve space, The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas said in a news release.
Hand-held signs are no longer banned. And a person can only be banned from from the Statehouse if they break the law, not just for a rules violation.
The litigation stems from an incident last year involving three Kansas State University students who briefly hung large banners in the Capitol rotunda saying Republican legislators who oppose expanding Medicaid have “blood on their hands.”
The students — Jonathan Cole, Katie Sullivan and Nathan Faflicki — were banned for a year from the Statehouse. The ACLU sued on their behalf.
“Our clients got essentially everything they’d sought through the lawsuit,” said Lauren Bonds, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas. “We are happy with the outcome and we are happy that Kansans can fully exercise their right to protest in the people’s house.”
