United States First Circuit
American Freedom Defense Initiative v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, 14-1018
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Defendant Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) refused to run two advertisements at issue here, each of which concerned a highly charged political issue (the Israeli-Palestinian conflict). The MBTA's advertising guideline restricts the display of advertisements that "demean or disparage" individuals or groups. Plaintiffs challenge the MBTA's advertising policy on First Amendment grounds. Judgment in favor of defendant MBTA is affirmed, where: 1) the application of the guideline to the advertisements at issue here was viewpoint neutral; and 2) the application of the guideline was reasonable in light of the valid purposes Ridley v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority held that the guideline serves.
Appellate Information
- Decided 03/30/2015
- Published 03/30/2015
Judges
- Barron
Court
- United States First Circuit