ACLU criticizes Beech Grove for deactivating pages
BEECH GROVE, Ind. (WISH) – An ACLU lawyer criticized the City of Beech Grove Wednesday for taking down two city Facebook pages.
Beech Grove city leaders deactivated pages for the City of Beech Grove and the Beech Grove Police Department after the ACLU sued the city for deleting Facebook posts.
Jan Mensz, who is the lead attorney for ACLU on the case, said the move deals another blow to free speech.
“That was not what we were seeking,” Mensz said. “We don’t think that’s necessary or required and I do think it’s unfortunate to close off an avenue for citizens to express their First Amendment rights.”
The lawsuit said, last fall, a Beech Grove local commented, asking about the city’s crime rate. Another user criticized the police department without using profanity, a document said.
ACLU lawyers said city workers deleted the comments and blocked the users. Mensz said the Facebook users aren’t seeking money, but they want their comments reposted and their profiles unblocked. They also want the city’s social media administrators to respect First Amendment rights.
Beech Grove city leaders said they’re working with the ACLU to revise the city’s social media policies. City Attorney Craig Wiley said they deleted the pages to work toward resolving the lawsuit.
Wiley said city workers did delete some comments.
“I’m not saying that we were faultless in this process. That’s something we’re still investigating,” Wiley said. “That’s why we’d like to work with ACLU on coming to a resolution of this matter.”
Polices said their Facebook page was a tool for locals to send tips. They’re now encouraging people to call police headquarters. City leaders hope to have the pages back up in two to three months.
“We’re not happy about doing this but we feel like we have to at least to get this case resolved,” Wiley said.
Within six hours of Beech Grove announcing they’d shut the pages down, more than 100 people commented. Many of them said they’re angry and wish the pages could stay up.
Wiley said an administrative assistant, a detective and a police officer operated the Facebook pages.