RICHMOND, Va. — After repeated threats for speaking out on public sidewalks against abortion, two pro-life supporters, represented by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Monday against the city’s police chief and one of its officers.

“Pro-life speech cannot be treated differently than any other kind of speech,” said ADF Senior Counsel Nate Kellum. “The police cannot reprimand speech for being ‘too loud’ when no standard definition of an unacceptable noise level exists.”

Charles Neal and Paul Trout, both of whom remained peaceful and respectful while expressing their free-speech rights on a public sidewalk, were repeatedly threatened by an officer from the Richmond Police Department for demonstrating outside an abortion clinic. The officer, who, like other members of the department, is permitted to work for private entities while off-duty, is employed by the abortion clinic. On two occasions, Neal was arrested by the same policeman and charged with disorderly conduct. Both charges were dismissed. The same officer also issued Trout a citation for violating Richmond’s ordinance against “Creation of Loud and Disturbing Noise” after Trout questioned the definition of “too loud.” That charge was later dismissed as well.

A copy of the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, in the case Neal v. City of Richmond is available here. “Both Mr. Neal and Mr. Trout acted entirely within the law while speaking out against abortion,” Kellum said. “The officer’s reasoning behind the continual harassment of both men is without merit, as evidenced by the swift dismissal of the charges filed against them.”

ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.