Free Speech Groups Sued Los Angeles City Council
A lawsuit challenges new rules banning specific language and excluding residents from public meetings.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Law
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The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the First Amendment Coalition have filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles City Council. The legal action challenges a city policy that bans specific offensive words and excludes residents from future meetings after they are removed for rule violations.
Why it matters
The lawsuit alleges that the city's speech restrictions and meeting bans violate the First Amendment and the Ralph M. Brown Act. Plaintiffs are seeking to overturn these rules and obtain damages for the perceived violation of their constitutional rights.
The Los Angeles City Council implemented a ban on specific language, including the words "cunt," "nigger," and their variations, in July 2025. The policy also permits the council to bar attendees from future meetings for up to six business days following a removal.
The players
Los Angeles City Council
This is the legislative body for the city of Los Angeles that manages local ordinances and public meeting conduct.
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
This is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech.
First Amendment Coalition
This is an organization that works to protect and promote the rights to free speech and open government in California.
Stacey Bohlinger
She is a resident who was removed from a city council meeting in December 2025 for using banned language.
The details
The council enacted the word ban in response to complaints regarding offensive language used by attendees during public comment periods. In December 2025, Stacey Bohlinger was removed from a city meeting after using a forbidden term, prompting legal scrutiny over the council's authority to regulate speech and restrict public access.
Timeline
July 2025: The Los Angeles City Council enacted the word ban.
October 2025: A plaintiff criticized the policy at a meeting.
December 2025: Stacey Bohlinger was removed from a meeting for using forbidden words.
October 6, 2026: The lawsuit was filed against the Los Angeles City Council.
Political Context
The lawsuit asserts that the city's speech restrictions and meeting bans violate both the First Amendment and the Ralph M. Brown Act. Critics argue these policies impede the open government principles mandated by the state law, effectively silencing legitimate public oversight of the council.
Residents attending city council meetings must now navigate these stricter conduct rules or risk being barred from future participation for up to six business days. This policy shift directly impacts how citizens can exercise their right to comment during public sessions.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing tension between maintaining order in public forums and upholding constitutional speech protections. Residents are encouraged to review meeting conduct policies to avoid inadvertent exclusion from future civic proceedings.
Further reading
Learn more about local government legal challenges in the Law section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
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Should city councils be permitted to ban specific words during public comment periods?
