Criminalizing the poor: ACLU of Michigan tells court to strike down anti-begging laws

Yesterday, a lawyer with the ACLU of Michigan asked a federal judge to, “strike down a state law that criminalizes peaceful panhandling in all public places.”

The ACLU appeared in federal court in Grand Rapids as a follow up to a lawsuit they filed against the State of Michigan in September, a lawsuit intended to do away with arresting people who ask for money on the street.

According to a Media Release from the ACLU of Michigan:

“Anti-begging laws that punish that most vulnerable segment of our society are not only harsh, they are unconstitutional,” said Miriam Aukerman, ACLU of Michigan staff attorney. “Removing the reminders of poverty from our sight is not the answer to Michigan’s economic woes. The ACLU is not opposed to laws that protect citizens from threats, intimidation and harassment. However, jail time is a harsh price to pay for holding up a sign or simply asking for spare change.”

Grand Rapids factors heavily into this issue, since the ACLU lawsuit was filed on behalf of two men arrested in Grand Rapids for asking people on the street for money, James Speet and Ernest Sims.

Since the lawsuit has been filed, James Speet claims that the Grand Rapids Police Department has stopped him several times and harassed him because of the lawsuit. The Chief of Police from Grand Rapids responded to such allegations today in a story that appeared on MLive.

In addition to the legal advocacy that the ACLU of Michigan is providing on this issue, they recently produced a short video that provides a clear explanation on why the anti-begging laws are unconstitutional. The video also provides testimony from Ernest Sims.