Myrtle Beach says it used reasonable restrictions in Bike Week preacher speech case
Myrtle Beach says it acted reasonably when it forced a street preacher to move during Memorial Day bike week.
The preacher — Brian Cranford — filed a civil lawsuit in October against the city and several police officers. Cranford said that he was targeted by police and forced to move from a public park during Memorial Day bike week. He also said a friend was arrested during the event.
Cranford said he was sharing his message on city sidewalks on May 25, which was during the Atlantic Beach bike week festivities in Myrtle Beach along Ocean Boulevard.
While Cranford was in Plyler Park, an officer told him the city manager signed an executive order to shut down the park, the suit claims. To avoid arrest, Cranford left and walked the sidewalks. He was then told to turn off his amplifier. About an hour after Cranford left the park, the suit claims, it was filled with people socializing, walking and running in the park.
Police officers told Cranford he could only be on the sidewalk if he kept moving, according to the suit. He said other people were allowed to congregate on the sidewalk.
While two of Cranford’s friends were walking the sidewalk, a person approached and asked one of them questions, according to the suit. When the other friend stopped to wait, an officer told him to keep moving. When the person said they were waiting for their friend, the officer arrested him.
Cranford said he and his friend did not block the sidewalks or impede the flow of traffic. He also claims they did not touch or assault anyone during bike week.
Myrtle Beach said Cranford’s conduct created “extraordinary circumstances” in which the defendants’ act reasonably and in good faith, according to the city’s answer, which was filed in federal court this week.
The city also stated its ordinances were appropriate time, place and manner restrictions on Cranford’s conduct. The Supreme Court has ruled that governments can place restrictions on speech that deal with time and place, and not with the message’s content.
Myrtle Beach denied nearly all of the allegations in Cranford’s initial filing and only admitted to basic facts.
