SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - A security zone around the Hawaiian Superferry does not infringe on protesters' First Amendment rights, the 9th Circuit ruled.
Megan Wong and 21 other protesters of the ferry's operation sued the federal government, stating that the Coast Guard prevented them from forming a blockade of its entrance. This violated their First Amendment rights, they said.
Judge Wardlaw affirmed the district court's decision that the plaintiffs' rights were not violated.
"Some forms of conduct are protected as symbolic speech, but the Supreme Court has extended First Amendment protection only to conduct that is inherently expressive," Wardlaw wrote.
Subscribe to our free newsletters
Our weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.
Additional Reads
-
-
Texans head to the polls for high-stakes US Senate primary February 17, 2026