Today, the ACLU of Missouri dismissed its lawsuit, Honicutt v. City of Springfield, following the City’s repeal of its unconstitutional panhandling ordinance.
On Nov. 7, 2015, Bobby Honicutt, a 61-year old Springfield resident, was threatened with criminal charges after silently holding a sign on a public sidewalk that read “Trying to Support My Sick Wife | Please help.” Mr. Honicutt made the difficult decision to solicit contributions in order to support his wife, who suffers from congestive heart failure and needs costly medical care. Despite having sought out and received written guidance from Springfield City Hall that suggested it was lawful to hold signs quietly on city sidewalks, Mr. Honicutt was still threatened with criminal charges on the basis that panhandlers make some people uncomfortable. On Dec. 3, 2015, the ACLU of Missouri filed suit on Mr. Honicutt’s behalf.
“We applaud the City for working with the ACLU to restore free speech rights to all of Springfield,” explains Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri. “We are hopeful that other municipalities will follow Springfield’s lead and take the steps necessary to ensure their panhandling laws are in line with the Constitution.”
“Those who have fallen on hard times deserve the same First Amendment protections as everyone else,” said Jeffrey A. Mittman, executive director of the ACLU of Missouri. “We remain ready and willing to take action to remind legislators that have lost sight of this American value and constitutional right.”
Court documents can be found here.