Federal judge blocks law that would prohibit protests at state-owned buildings

The State Capitol, Governor’s Mansion, and other state-owned facilities are still fair game for protests.

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate issued a preliminary injunction blocking a controversial portion of S.B. 2343 from taking effect.

The section in question would have required protesters to obtain permission from the chief of Capitol Police or the commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety prior to demonstrating in front of state-owned buildings.

Wingate said the provision likely would have had a chilling effect on free speech and criticized the law for being too “constitutionally vague.”