The Bay Area Rapid Transit District’s attempt last week to foil protesters by shutting down cellular service in its San Francisco underground stations has turned into a First Amendment cause celebre.
The transit district switched off service last Thursday to confound protesters who might use mobile phones to organize inside the stations. BART said it took the step to protect passenger safety.
First Amendment advocates called the move an overreaction that trampled on the rights of legitimate users.
By silencing all cellular communication, “you’re shutting down much more speech than could possibly be related to a protest,” ACLU lawyer Michael Risher told the San Francisco Chronicle.
The demonstration, which didn’t occur, was planned after BART police shot a man to death July 3 at the Civic Center station. Police said the man threatened them with a knife.