Right to Political Activity at Pittsburgh Pirates Game

A 2002 lawsuit on behalf of four activists arrested by Pittsburgh police officers outside a Pirates’ baseball game at PNC Park for distributing pamphlets criticizing major league baseball for selling merchandise made by foreign sweat shops is ongoing. Three years ago the ACLU-PA secured a court order protecting protesters’ rights to engage in political activity on the sidewalks surrounding the stadium. The court denied the City’s summary judgment motion in February 2005. We are awaiting a trial date on the damages claim.