WASHINGTON – A push by Republican states to ban panhandling was sidelined at the Supreme Court, which rejected on March 2 an invitation from Alabama to rule that begging is not protected speech under the First Amendment.
In an appeal backed by 19 GOP attorneys general from other states, Alabama had asked the court to decide whether the Constitution allows criminalizing panhandling.
A homeless man from Montgomery, Jonathan Singleton, successfully challenged the state's panhandling bans as a violation of his free speech rights.
Singleton was cited six times for violating a state law against soliciting contributions, including for holding a sign that read “HOMELESS. Today it is me, tomorrow it could be you” while standing in the grass near a highway exit.
Violators could be punished with fines up to $500 or three months in jail under one anti-begging law. Another measure set fines up to $100 or as many as 10 days in jail for soliciting contributions from people in cars.
