A Columbus pastor who accused the city of violating his right to freedom of speech in 2011 has been awarded $10,000-plus.
Stephen Joiner, the pastor at First Church of the Nazarene, filed a federal lawsuit against the city last year claiming his arrest on March 30, 2011, was “unconstitutional.”
The arrest occurred near the intersection of Highway 45 North and 18th Avenue. At the time, Joiner had joined 30 to 40 people taking part in a pro-life rally. Joiner believes life begins at conception, according to his lawsuit.
During the event, Joiner displayed a sign to a passerby. A Columbus police officer asked the group to leave the area because they were interfering with traffic. Joiner countered, saying he had a First Amendment right to remain in the area. The officer — Capt. Fred Shelton — ultimately arrested Joiner.
A municipal court trial in August 2011 found Joiner guilty. He appealed the conviction to County Court. That court dismissed the case in 2013 and Joiner filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court of Northern Mississippi.
The city, in a filed response to the lawsuit last year, denied any wrongdoing. On March 10, however, the city offered to pay Joiner $10,263 in damages. Joiner, through his attorneys, accepted.
The federal court issued a final judgment Monday. The city will also pay Joiner’s attorney fees.
William Browning was managing editor for The Dispatch until June 2016.
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