Kansas City Mayor Q Might Not Be Able To Block Social Media Critics

Context for this legal question . . .

An alderman from STL was a crook and he didn't like hearing about it via social media. 

As we've repeatedly reported . . . There are quite a few locals who complain that their online complaints against the Kansas City Mayor Q have been silenced. 

The defense has been that Mayor Q is using his "personal" social media to communicate where blocking has some merit whilst his official channels remain open but not as frequently utilized. 

However . . . 

NOTICE ACLU OF MISSOURI CHALLENGING POLITICOS WHO BLOCK VOTER CRITICISM!!!

Don't get hopes up for a legal mandate any time soon . . . It's likely that a final ruling from SCOTUS is the only way this debate is settled. 

For now, here's a peek at a bold pronouncement as the argument evolves and the practice of elected officials blocking the plebs proves harder to justify . . .

The ACLU of Missouri and the Washington University School of Law’s First Amendment Clinic sued on behalf of a constituent, Sarah Felts, after Reed blocked her on the social media platform Twitter for making critical comments. Reed was replaced by the current Board of Aldermen President, Megan Green, as the defendant following his resignation for unrelated matters in June 2022.

“I am glad the Court spoke clearly: Our elected leaders may not abuse their authority to silence the people they represent just because they disagree,” said Sarah Felts. “Twitter has empowered everyday citizens to engage with our elected officials more than ever before. I am grateful to the lawyers and law students at Wash U’s First Amendment Clinic and the lawyers at the ACLU of Missouri for working diligently to protect my First and 14th Amendment rights.”

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Federal Appeals Court Affirms that the City of St. Louis is Liable for First Amendment Violation Arising from Social Media Blocking

St. Louis - A three-judge panel from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit upheld a district court's ruling that the City of St.