ACLU sues Woonsocket mayor for blocking constituents on Facebook

WOONSOCKET – The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of two men against Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt and City Treasurer Laurie Perry, the ACLU announced Thursday.

The lawsuit alleges that the mayor had engaged in censorship via her Facebook page by blocking constituents because they criticized her or her policies.

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The ACLU argued that because the mayor’s Facebook page is operated for official purposes, the practice of blocking a constituent is unconstitutional, violating the First Amendment right to “to speak and to petition the government for redress of grievances.”

Two men, Gregory Duhamel and Thomas Dubois, were both blocked from interacting with the mayor’s page.

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The ACLU of Rhode Island is seeking to have a judge declare the action unconstitutional and is seeking damages for the plaintiffs, attorneys fees and additional relief as deemed necessary, as well as an injunction requiring the mayor to unban the men.

The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.