Anti-abortion protester sues city

June 23, 2006

This article appeared in the Detroit Free Press.

June 8, 2006

BY DAVID ASHENFELTER

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
A Virginia anti-abortion protester is suing the City of Detroit, charging that city police officers illegally arrested him and impounded his truck that featured graphic posters of aborted fetuses.

The incident happened to Dennis Green of suburban Richmond in February during Super Bowl XL.

"They intentionally violated Mr. Green's rights," his lawyer, Michael DePrimo, said.

DePrimo said Tuesday that Green was ticketed under a city ordinance adopted last summer to restrict certain commercial activities -- like mobile advertising -- in the downtown area for major events. DePrimo said the law doesn't apply to social and political protests.

The suit seeks a ruling that police falsely arrested Green, illegally impounded his vehicle and violated his free speech rights. He seeks unspecified monetary damages.

There was no immediate comment from Detroit's Law Department.

DePrimo said Green runs Life and Liberty Ministry, an anti-abortion Christian organization in suburban Richmond. Part of his ministry includes showing up at major public events in a Ford truck plastered with posters of aborted fetuses and biblical passages.