Framingham social-services agency thinks the First Amendment is a conspiracy against it

[Ian David]

By adamg - Sat, 10/27/2007 - 11:50am.

In case you missed it, the South Middlesex Opportunity Council has filed a federal lawsuit against town officials and Framingham residents, charging them with conspiring to push disabled people out of town - which it claims is illegal under federal anti-discrimination laws.

Named in the suit are selectmen, Planning Board members, Town Meeting members and residents who run Web sites and forums where people have raised questions about SMOC expansion in Framingham, such as the Framingham Neighbors Website and Stop SMOC.

It's bizarre to see a social-services agency file a SLAPP lawsuit (generally filed by evil corporations) that, in the end, will be dismissed and only end up costing people exercising their constitutional right to free speech - and SMOC - tens of thousands of dollars. It's also likely to turn SMOC moderates into SMOC haters (the MetroWest Daily News explains just how misguided the suit is).

Chuck Tanowitz, who runs a Newton forum, is already worrying:

More:
http://www.universalhub.com/node/11099