The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is criticizing the Battle Creek City Commission’s passing of ordinances regulating panhanding this week.

The Enquirer reports that the ACLU of Michigan is urging the City Commission to drop the proposals, saying that they criminalize poverty.  As well, the organization reiterated their point that such laws against panhandling and loitering are unconstitutional, a point made by the ACLU in their July 25 letter to the City Commission.

At their Tuesday evening meeting, the Battle Creek City Commission approved 5-4 the ordinances that would, among other things, outlaw soliciting money “in a way that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized [or] frightened”, and prohibit loitering within 25 feet of an intersection.

The ordinances now await final approval when the City Commission next meets September 6.

BONUS VIDEO - Discussing Aggressive Panhandling in Battle Creek

 

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