A group of pastors has filed a case against the city of Chicago, alleging unconstitutional arrests of Christian street preachers, according to Premier Christian News. The American Centre for Law & Justice (ACLJ) filed the lawsuit on behalf of Brett Raio, Reetik, and Perez, claiming police wrongfully detained them for sharing their faith in public spaces.
Raio was detained near Millennium Park and charged with preaching in a public area. The court later dismissed his case after reviewing video evidence. Days later, police reportedly apprehended Reetik and Perez at the same location on similar charges, raising concerns about repeated enforcement.
The legal group alleged that city authorities adopted a policy targeting street preachers using amplification, regardless of whether they exceeded noise limits. It added that local laws require permits for amplified sound beyond conversational levels, with violations carrying fines ranging from $400 to $5,000.
The organisation argued that officers did not assess actual noise violations before making detentions and instead acted immediately. It further stated that the lawsuit seeks damages for emotional distress and said that the arrests infringed on constitutional rights and religious freedom protections.