Philly Airport Still Faces Free Speech Claim

Courthouse News Service reports that Philadelphia International Airport is still in hot water for rejecting an NAACP ad that would have said: “Welcome to America, home to 5 percent of the world’s people and 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. Let’s build a better America together. NAACP.org/smartandsafe.”

The NAACP sued in October 2011 after the ad was rejected; City Hall then formally adopted a policy refusing political or noncommercial ads. The NAAACP then amended its suit,noting the airport had previously accepted ads for noncommercial, potentially controversial ads, including some for the World Wildlife Federation, the Foundation for a Better Life, the National Parent-Teacher Association, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the United Service Organization.

The airport asked for the suit to be dismissed, claiming it is a “nonpublic” forum. On May 20, a judge disagreed, and allowed the suit to proceed. No word on what the next steps are in the suit.