City of Thornton Backs Off Restrictions on Free Speech After ACLU Raises Concerns
In May 2009, the Thornton City Council adopted a resolution significantly restricting free speech at city-sponsored events, such as the annual Fourth of July celebration and fall harvest festival. In response to concerns raised by the ACLU, the City revised some of the most onerous provisions, adopted official interpretations that were more free speech-friendly than the plain language of the policy, and provided assurance that no person could be criminally prosecuted for violating the resolution.