A federal judge ruled that police in Ferguson, Missouri could not employ the “5 second rule,” limiting the time protesters could remain in one place or be arrested. “The practice of requiring peaceful demonstrators and others to walk, rather than stand still, violates the constitution,” U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Perry wrote. (The Washington Post, October 6, 2014, by Wesley Lowery)
Perry also wrote that the police could act to disperse those who endanger the lives of police or others and could use all lawful means to control crowds. (Dissenter, October 7, 2014, by Kevin Gosztola)
The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri praised the injunction against enforcing the “5 second rule” as a reaffirmation of the rule of law. “The rule has no statutory or regulatory reference number and has not been released to the public in print,” they wrote. (ACLU of Missouri, October 6, 2014)