ACLU sues Maryland, Kentucky governors over social media censorship

[turbinetree]

Source: The Hill

The American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLU) has filed lawsuits against the governors of Maryland and Kentucky, claiming they violated constituents' First Amendment rights by blocking individuals from official social media accounts.

The organization’s Kentucky branch filed a lawsuit Monday on behalf of several constituents, while its Maryland branch filed suit on Tuesday. Both suits ask for injunctions to stop Govs. Matt Bevin (R-Ky.) and Larry Hogan (R-Md.) from blocking constituents on social media accounts.

"The highest purpose of the First Amendment is to protect the right of Americans to engage in political speech and to petition the government to address their concerns," Deborah Jeon, who serves as the ACLU of Maryland’s legal director, said in a statement.

"As the Supreme Court ruled in June, and a federal judge in Virginia echoed just last week, social media has become a vital means for constituents to communicate with their elected officials. It violates both the First Amendment and Maryland's own social media guidelines for government officials to block out any voices of dissent or those simply raising questions about positions taken by public officials sworn to serve."
One of the Maryland plaintiffs said she was a Democrat who voted for Hogan and was blocked from his Facebook page after asking the governor to issue a statement on President Trump’s travel ban.

Read more: http://thehill.com/legal/344793-aclu-files-lawsuit-against-maryland-kentucky-governors-over-social-media-censorship

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Hogan is a business man and he is the worst governor to have taken a seat in that position, he is running really close to Ehrlich twin

[Gothmog]

1. Trump will also be sued for blocking twitter followers

[Kingofalldems]

2. I didn't realize Hogan was doing this.

He fooled some Marylanders into believing he was a RINO. He's a RW repub just like his father.

[turbinetree]

3. Yes he is, always has been

this is one of main reason why I like this site a lot, to inform what is happening out in this country and to learn from others, and in this state of Maryland, will not hear about this on the local news.................

[Igel]

4. Then they need a way for the account holder to make posts private.

"Yes, you can post. But I'm the only one who can see it."

Right to address your representative is there, but you don't need to let them protest in your office.

And, given my level of Twitter-wonkiness, perhaps that's already there.