A complaint on behalf of Irvine resident, Lamar West, has been filed in federal court accusing Mayor Christina Shea of violating First Amendment rights by blocking West and other Irvine residents on her Facebook page after they posted comments in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Shea has defended her actions by saying it is her personal Facebook page.  However, Shea regularly uses her personal Facebook page to disseminate information regarding Mayoral and City Council activities.

Peter Eliasberg, who serves as Chief Counsel and First Amendment attorney with the ACLU of Southern California stated: “When government officials use social media clearly in their governmental capacities, then if they are going to allow comments, they can’t discriminate on the basis of the content of those comments.”

Irvine Community News & Views will keep our readers updated on this lawsuit as more information is released.

ICNV Staff
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