Anti-Fur Group Seek to Overturn Mall’s Protest Ban
A Southern California anti-fur group is turning to the courts for permission to demonstrate at an upscale shopping mall.
Last Chance for Animals, based in Los Angeles, filed court papers this week to overturn the Fashion Valley Mall’s restraining order against the group’s protests.
The group contends that the mall’s ban on protests is a violation of its 1st Amendment rights.
“This isn’t about fur,” said Eric Mindel, the director of Last Chance for Animals. “This is about fighting for Americans’ rights to express themselves in public.”
Fashion Valley Mall officials said they had not seen the motion to overturn the restraining order and could not comment. A court hearing is scheduled for next month.
Fashion Valley Mall sought the injunction after November demonstrations in which protesters attempted to discourage people from shopping at a Neiman-Marcus store because it sells furs. Police arrested 11 of the demonstrators.
“Urging and encouraging shoppers not to purchase merchandise from mall merchants is not the type of confrontational or obscene speech substantially likely to breach the peace,” the group’s attorney, Bing Bush Jr., wrote in the motion.
The protesters also object to the mall’s application form for those who wish to hold any kind of demonstration. Bush said it allows Fashion Valley’s owners to monitor free speech.
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