BOONE COUNTY — Less than a month after it was filed, a complaint filed by the ACLU against the Boone County Commissioners has been dismissed.
The complaint alleged the County violated the First Amendment after blocking a resident from the Commissioners' Facebook page.
According to the stipulation of dismissal, the plaintiff, Boone County resident Kevin Dininger, has been unblocked from the page.
"The County further agrees that, on said Facebook page, it will not hide or delete user comments, ban or block users, or censor user comments based on viewpoints expressed by the users," the document read.
The agreement still allows the County to delete comments that are vulgar, obscene, defamatory, harrassing or threatening.
An internal investigation by the county found the blocking was "inadvertent."
A spokesperson for the Boone County Commissioners tells WRTV "the situation has been resolved to the satisfaction of all the parties."
The ACLU of Indiana shared the following statement:
"When a government entity opens up a space for public comment, it cannot regulate those comments based upon someone’s viewpoint. Boone County has agreed to refrain from censoring comments in the future and, while we are pleased that the County resolved the issue so promptly, this problem is not exclusive to Boone County. We hope other government entities and public officials will take notice to avoid further litigation."
-
Hoosiers unite for 'Stand On Peace Walk'
Hundreds of Hoosiers gathered for the Stand On Peace Walk Friday afternoon to raise awareness for National Youth Violence Prevention Week.Trent and Giannis score 37 in 117-101 Game 3 win over Pacers
The Pacers led 57-47 at halftime, but Trent hit three 3-pointers early in the third to pull the Bucks even at 62.Expert insight on prolonged pollen seasons and allergy relief throughout Spring
With rising temperatures indicating a change in climate, local health experts warn that it may be more than just a seasonal nuisance.The Willow Center teams with Hendricks County Jail for an inmate reentry program
The reentry program provides two dedicated “Recovery Pods” for men and women. They create a separate, supportive environment focused on recovery, healing, and growth.