Four Christian students from Wheaton college are suing the city of Chicago after they’re banned from sharing the gospel in public parks.
The students, who are part of a Chicago Evangelism Team at Wheaton College, claim they have been prevented from evangelizing by security personnel working at the downtown “Millennium Park.”
In a press release Student Matt Swart said – “We desire to exercise our constitutional right to free speech through sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” “For the sake of every citizen who desires to make use of the rights our forefathers bled for, we pray that the City of Chicago amends their unconstitutional code.”
Religious freedom law firm Mauck & Baker, which is representing the students, has filed a motion in federal court requesting an injunction against the rules that restrict certain activities in Millennium Park.
Associate attorney Sorin Leahu told the Christian Post -“By its nature in history, public parks have always been completely open to speech activities.”
One of the contested rules that city officials say is enforced to help keep the peace at the park is a prohibiting of any “disruptive conduct.”
A spokesperson for the city’s law department told the Chicago Tribute that the new rules “protect First Amendment rights while also respecting the rights of patrons to use and enjoy the park.”
The complaint, however, directly contradicts this statement, asserting that the park’s rules “improperly restrict speech and distribution of free literature within a traditional public forum.”