Flagstaff police officers remove a Food Not Bombs banner from Wheeler park. (Lumberjack Photo/Ben Weitzenkorn)

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today/The Lumberjack)–The ACLU is threatening to take action against the City of Flagstaff following a series of tickets being issued to Food Not Bombs members at Wheeler Park last month.

Lumberjack reporter Danny Kohl is reporting that the final straw came when Flagstaff police officers cited FNB member Russell Crawford on October 3rd for posting a sign without a permit.  The sign was a banner that was secured by some food containers to part of the war memorial at the park.  The Flagstaff City Code prohibits posting handbills on public property.  Citations were issued in September to other members of FNB for violation of that code.  The group also received citations on November 14th.

Arizona ACLU attorney Lee Phillips said in a letter to City Attorney Patricia Boomsma, Mayor Sara Presler, and Chief of Police Brent Cooper that the citations issued by police officers “…illustrate the threat that a vague and undefined permit requirement poses to [the] fundamental right of expression…”

Philips told the Lumberjack that he has not received a response from the City of Flagstaff.

–

Lumberjack reporter Danny Kohl contributed to this story.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the Lumberjack, available at local businesses and on the NAU campus.