First Amendment | Atlanta Progressive News

Category Archives: First Amendment

Progressives Delighted with Gov. Deal’s Veto of Troubling “Religious Freedom” Bill

March 29, 2016 GLORIA TATUM One comment

With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale (APN) ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal announced on Monday, March 28, 2016, that he will veto HB 757, the so-called “Religious Freedom Bill” passed by the Legislature earlier this year. http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/757 Many progressive advocates, faith leaders, and elected officials have responded with delight. “As a Rabbi, I’m relieved and […]

Bond Granted for Latausha Nedd as New Details Undermine State’s Case

October 25, 2015 ANNA SIMONTON 25 comments

(APN) JONESBORO, Georgia –– A Clayton County magistrate judge has granted bond to Latausha Nedd, the first victory in a case that raises serious concerns about free speech rights and the power of law enforcement and vigilantes to destabilize social movements by targeting activists. Atlanta Progressive News previously reported that Nedd, a Clayton County resident with a long track […]

APD Free Speech Violations Go to Court

September 24, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 2 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — Three lawsuits were filed on Monday, September 21, 2015, for violations of free speech rights of protesters and media by Atlanta police. Two cases resulted from the November 2014 marches and protests in downtown Atlanta after the police killing verdict in the controversial Ferguson, Missouri, case was announced to the public As reported earlier by […]

Early Voting Laws Narrowly Escape Sine Die Intact (UPDATE 1)

April 3, 2015 ANNA SIMONTON Leave a comment

With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale, News Editor (APN) ATLANTA — On Sine Die, the last day of the Georgia Legislative Session, on Thursday, April 02, 2015, Georgians’ already-reduced early voting period hung in legislative limbo with the possibility of it being further reduced from twenty-one to twelve days. But ultimately the effort to reduce early voting failed. […]

Georgia’s Religious Freedom Bill: A Legal Primer for Progressives

January 3, 2015 MATTHEW CHARLES 4 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — State Rep. Sam Teasley (R-Marietta) has pre-filed HB 29, the Preventing Government Overreach on Religious Expression Act, for the 2015-2016 Georgia Legislative Session. The bill–which would seek to change the court standard for cases involving claims for religious freedom–is likely to spark controversy, uproar, and impassioned lobbying both for and against the legislation. Last year, […]

“F*ck the Police” Arrest Leads to $100,000 Settlement in Cobb County

December 22, 2014 GLORIA TATUM 11 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — In the spring of 2012, Amy Barnes, a Cobb County resident and activist with Occupy Atlanta, was riding her bicycle when she saw two police officers questioning a Black man outside a convenience store. As she rode by on her bicycle, she gave them the middle finger salute and shouted “Fuck the police,” and “Police suck.” […]

Judge Denies Stand Your Ground Defense by Home Defenders

May 21, 2014 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) DECATUR — On May 14, 2014, the “Avondale” Four testified in the DeKalb County courthouse that they were not criminally trespassing when they refused to leave the Avondale Estate property after police served an eviction notice on August 09, 2013, but rather they were “standing their ground” against an illegal foreclosure and unlawful eviction. The Avondale Four […]

A Progressive Critique of Efforts to Repeal Stand Your Ground

February 26, 2014 APN NEWS Leave a comment

By Johnny Walking Drum Atlanta Progressive News reported an ignominious act perpetrated by our government to curtail Moral Monday protesters’ liberties in a redress of grievance at the Georgia Capitol building in downtown Atlanta. The Moral Monday (MM) protesters, who were challenging the Stand Your Ground law, were arrested for exercising their right under the First Amendment of the […]

No Freedom in Atlanta’s Freedom Park for Cannabis Activists

May 12, 2013 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Neither soaking rain nor the lack of permit from the City of Atlanta prevented advocates for the legalization of cannabis–commonly known as marijuana–from speaking out at the Great Atlanta Pot Festival 2013. Paul Cornwell, Atlanta Coalition for the Abolition of Marijuana Prohibition (CAMP), and the festival organizer, was turned down for a permit to hold […]

Mandamus Against Mitchell, Johnson Sought in Secret Vote Case

December 28, 2012 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Yesterday, December 27, 2012, the News Editor of Atlanta Progressive News, the present writer, filed further litigation in the secret vote lawsuit seeking for the Fulton County Superior Court to grant a writ of mandamus, ordering two specific City of Atlanta public officers–Council President Ceasar Mitchell and Municipal Clerk Rhonda Dauphin Johnson, both in their official capacities–to […]

Minor Parties Sue Over Presidential Ballot Access in Georgia (UPDATE 1)

June 9, 2012 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Friday, May 25, 2012, the Green Party of Georgia and the Constitution Party of Georgia filed a lawsuit in US District Court against the State of Georgia and Secretary of State Brian Kemp challenging the ballot access requirements for independent and minor party candidates to run candidates on ballots in Georgia for President of the US. […]

City of Atlanta Loses Bid for Secret Memo Injunction, Contempt

August 16, 2011 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — In a victory against the City of Atlanta’s ongoing, multifaceted attack upon the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, the News Editor of Atlanta Progressive News–the present writer–prevailed in court against the City’s attempt to suppress APN’s publication of the City’s secret memos. APN wrote about four internal City of Atlanta memos prepared […]

City of Atlanta Attorneys Want Their Memos Back

August 11, 2011 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta Law Department has requested that Atlanta Progressive News return four memoranda to their offices, after APN obtained the controversial memos and published their contents earlier this week. One memo, dated April 04, 2011, authored by Kristen Denius, Assistant City Attorney, and sent to all Council Members and Council staff, admits that Council Members […]