Legal
Colorado ACLU Cases

Legal Department Docket, 2002-Present

Case Name:  People v. Cordaro, Durland, Eaves, Fineron, Froese, Kerwin, and Verlo.
Case Number:  07-M-12531, 07-M-12534, 07-M-12521, 07-M-12535, 07-M-12533, 07-M-12536, & 07-M-12532, Colorado Springs Municipal Court
ACLU Case Number:  2007-05

Description:  The City of Colorado Springs prosecuted seven persons who marched with a larger group during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Colorado Springs on March 17, 2007, wearing green t-shirts with peace signs and carrying peace banners.  Although they had a permit to march in the privately-organized parade, the group was told that they had to leave because the parade organizers banned messages relating to “social issues.” The seven were arrested and charged with failure to disperse. The ACLU of Colorado successfully represented the seven defendants in their criminal trial.  In 2008, the parade organizers abandoned their ban on “social issues” during the annual parade.

Issues:  Freedom of speech and association; police practices; right to petition the government

Links to Selected Documents:

Reign on our parade: Nursing fresh wounds, the city wonders what's next, Colorado Springs Independent (March 22, 2007).

City Drops Charges Against Last of St. Patrick's Day Protesters, KRCC (November 28, 2007).

Organizers change rules for St. Patrick's Day parade: Group whose members were arrested in '07 march, Colorado Gazette (February 1, 2008).

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