Two members of an antiwar protest group called the Detroit Ceasefire Choir have filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Detroit and the organizations managing Campus Martius Park, accusing them of violating their First Amendment rights.
The lawsuit, announced Tuesday, alleges that security guards at the park silenced the choir’s pro-ceasefire caroling last holiday season, claiming their message was “too controversial” and falsely asserting that Campus Martius is a private park.
The choir members, represented by the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative (CRLI) at the University of Michigan Law School, argue that their peaceful protest was fully compliant with the city’s free speech ordinances, which explicitly allow small demonstrations in public spaces without requiring a permit. (The CRLI is also representing Metro Times in a lawsuit requesting data from Michigan State Police.)
“Our choir went to Campus Martius to call for a ceasefire in Gaza by singing carols,” Kim Redigan, one of the plaintiffs, said. “How can citizens advocating for peace and liberation be asked to leave a public park when they are complying with the city’s policies that protect free speech?”
The lawsuit stems from incidents on Dec. 30, 2023, and Jan. 5, 2024, when members of the Ceasefire Choir gathered near the Christmas tree at Campus Martius to sing for peace in the Middle East, a ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to islamophobia and antisemitism. The choir carried signs reading “Peace and Joy — Ceasefire Now” and “Love Thy Neighbor.” Security guards — allegedly hired by Detroit 300, the group contracted by the city to manage the park — ordered the carolers to leave, claiming their lyrics were too controversial.
Security personnel also reportedly told the protesters that Campus Martius was private property, a claim the plaintiffs say is demonstrably false. The park is regularly celebrated by the city as a public square, most recently earning the title of “Top Public Square” in the United States by USA Today.
The Ceasefire Choir says it contacted the city of Detroit and Detroit 300 in May, requesting assurances that security guards would be trained to comply with free speech protections. According to the lawsuit, those assurances were never provided, and security personnel continue to tell visitors that protests are not permitted in the park.
This is not the first time the City of Detroit and Campus Martius park management have faced legal challenges over free speech. In 2015, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan sued both entities after housing activists were barred from peacefully protesting in the park. That case resulted in a settlement requiring the city to pass ordinances protecting free speech in public spaces.
Under the current ordinance, groups of up to 25 people may assemble at Campus Martius without a permit, provided they do not use amplified sound or demonstrate within certain restricted areas such as the ice rink or outdoor dining spaces.
“It is particularly disturbing that our clients were censored when Detroit has already enacted a free speech ordinance that specifically allows protest in Campus Martius,” Jillian Snyman, a student attorney with CRLI, said in a previous statement.
The plaintiffs’ complaint asks the court to enforce the city’s free speech ordinance, require security guard training on First Amendment rights, and ensure that protesters can express their views in Campus Martius without fear of unlawful censorship.
The Detroit Ceasefire Choir describes its mission as an interfaith effort to promote peace, justice, and equality. Members say they plan to continue their advocacy, including singing protest carols at Campus Martius this holiday season.
“Our democracy depends on the ability of all people to speak freely in the public square about matters of public concern, including a ceasefire in Gaza,” said Eman Naga, another CRLI student attorney. “Given Detroit’s free speech ordinances allowing small demonstrations in Campus Martius without a permit, it is disheartening that security guards continue to unlawfully censor protest.”
The city of Detroit declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
“While the suit has been filed, the city has not yet been served and cannot comment on this pending litigation,” Detroit corporation counsel Conrad Mallett Jr. said in a statement. “We will respond fully to this complaint in our response to the court.”
Metro Times couldn’t reach Detroit 300 for comment.
