South Carolina man forced to obtain permit to hold Christian sign on public sidewalk
A South Carolina man claims his religious freedoms were violated when his town required him to obtain a permit to display a religious sign.
Ernest Giardino, an elder at Chapin Fellowship Church…
A South Carolina man claims his religious freedoms were violated when his town required him to obtain a permit to display a religious sign.
Ernest Giardino, an elder at Chapin Fellowship Church and employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), frequently stood on Chapin’s public sidewalks, holding signs with messages such as, “Trust Christ He paid the price.”
The other side of the sign read, “He Saved Others – Jesus – He’ll Save You.”
Though he had displayed similar signs for eight months without interruptions, a local police officer told Giardino on June 20 that he would need to obtain a permit.
The permit only allows him to hold a sign up to half an hour a day.
But according to First Liberty, which is representing Giardino, Chapin’s restrictions are unconstitutional since Giardino’s signs constitute free speech and sidewalks are public.
“Chapin has violated and persists in violating Mr. Giardino’s constitutional rights by forcing a permit requirement on his peaceful, non-obstructive religious expression on public sidewalks,” First Liberty said in a letter to Chapin’s mayor and police chief.
“He requires written assurance that Chapin will no longer ban his expression on public sidewalks through the aforementioned permit scheme.”
First Liberty requested the town respond by Nov. 12.
“No one needs the government’s permission to express their faith in public,” said First Liberty Senior Counsel Nate Kellum. “The First Amendment is his permit. Like any citizen in any city in America, Mr. Giardino is free to peacefully share his religious beliefs on a public sidewalk.
“Chapin’s ordinance is overbroad, unconstitutional, and must be repealed.”