RI ACLU sues Providence police over woman handing out leaflets

The Rhode Island ACLU on Friday filed a federal lawsuit against Providence police, accusing them of stopping a woman from handing out leaflets in front of a building where Mayor David Cicilline was speaking.

The ACLU said the incident happened on February 2nd near the Providence Career and Technical Academy.

Cicilline was there to give the annual State of the City address.

The woman, Judith Reilly, claims two police officers ordered her to move across the street with her leaflets or face arrest.

The leaflets had been prepared by the Olneyville Neighborhood Association and were critical of a mayoral appointee.

The ACLU says the officers violated Reilly's free speech rights because she was on a public sidewalk.

Reilly said she filed a complaint with the police internal affairs division but was told it was uncertain whether their actions constituted misconduct.

The lawsuit seeks a court order preventing further interference with Reilly's exercise of her free speech rights and directing city officials to properly train officers on the rights of people to distribute political flyers on public sidewalks.