Listen Live

FRANKLIN, Ind. — The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has filed a lawsuit against Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett.

The suit says Barnett blocked William Reynolds from viewing or commenting on the Mayor’s Facebook page.

“When William Reynolds tagged Mayor Barnett in a post that highlighted Mayor Barnett’s past support for the Black Lives Matter movement he was swiftly “blocked” from Mayor Barnett’s Facebook page,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit argues that Reynold’s First Amendment rights were violated because he is not able to view, or comment on, any of the content on Barnett’s Facebook page.

The suit maintains that, while Barnett’s page is a “personal” page, it serves as his official governmental account because he uses it to “post information about his activities as mayor and about events and other initiatives in the City of Franklin, and about other matters of relevance to his constituents.”

The ACLU is asking that Reynolds be unblocked from Barnett’s Facebook page and that his costs and attorney’s fees be covered.