Four citizens of an impoverished town in Alabama are petitioning a federal judge to dismiss a $30 million slander suit filed by companies behind the practice of importing tons of coal ash to a landfill in their town. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the petition arguing that the citizens were within their First Amendment rights of protest. (The Associated Press, June 2, 2016, by Jay Reeves)
The ACLU is condemning the slander lawsuit as a threat to free speech as powerful interests seek to silence “…the kind of political advocacy that lies at the core of the First Amendment’s protections.” (ACLU, June 2, 2016, by Lee Rowland and Dennis Parker)
The landfill owner, Green Group Holdings LCC of Georgia, is contending that there was slander and libel on the citizens’ group website and Facebook page besides false statements made to the press. Green Group cited the following phrases in bold face as particularly objectionable :
“Its a landfill, its a tall mountain of coal ash and it has affected us. It affected our everyday life. It really has done a lot to our freedom. Its another impact of slavery. …Cause we are in a black residence, things change? And you can’t walk outside. And you can not breathe. I mean, you are in like prison. I mean, its like all your freedom is gone. As a black woman, our voices are not heard. EPA hasn’t listened and ADEM has not listened. Whether you are white or black, rich or poor, it should still matter and we all should have the right to clean air and clean water. I want to see EPA do their job.” (The Institute of Southern Studies, April 15, 2016, by Sue Sturgis)