July 18, 2007 Parade lawsuit dropped; fee waived BRIDGETON -- A civil rights group and a farm workers' organization have dropped a lawsuit that questioned the city's commitment to providing an adequate forum for free speech. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Farm Workers Support Committee, or CATA, had filed suit last week challenging the $1,500 city officials billed the organization for expenses related to a demonstration held in the city May 1. CATA organizer Vanessa Cardinale said the fee violates free speech rights because not everyone can afford that amount of money. "It suppresses peoples' ability to express themselves," she said. The parade and rally have been used in recent years as a forum for issues affecting the primarily Hispanic farm worker community in South Jersey. The city requested CATA pay the money for police overtime and other expenses, and has made similar requests to other organizations. As part of the settlement, the city will not seek the $1,587.43 from this year's rally. But Mayor James Begley expects city council to review later this month an ordinance establishing and justifying fees charged to organizations for events. "It was not a situation they wanted to pursue and they settled," the mayor said of the plaintiffs. "I'm happy they came to their senses." The ACLU and CATA could file another lawsuit if they feel the fees established by the ordinance are still too high, Cardinale said. |