LAFAYETTE – A nonprofit organization based in Sterlington alleges its First and 14th Amendment rights were violated when it was prohibited from participating in a Christmas parade with a Confederate flag.
Louisiana Division of Sons of Confederate Veterans filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against city of Natchitoches; Lee Posey; and John Does one through three, members of the Christmas Festival Committee, alleging that they knowingly violated equal protection laws.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff is a historical and heritage organization that has the Confederate flag incorporated into its logo. The plaintiff alleges that Posey told it in a letter that its members were not allowed to march with Confederate flag during the Natchitoches Christmas Festival Parade. Because the city's policy allegedly did not afford the plaintiff an appeal of the mayor's letter, and because the plaintiff refused to comply, it was prohibited from marching. The plaintiff holds city of Natchitoches; Posey; and John Does one through three, members of the Christmas Festival Committee responsible because the defendants allegedly refused to allow it to display Confederate flags during the parade.
The plaintiff seeks judgment entered against the defendants for nominal damages, attorney's fees, expenses and costs, injunctive relief prohibiting such conduct in the future, and any other relief that the court deems appropriate. It is represented by Dick "Dave" Knadler of Law office of Dick "Dave" Knadler LLC in Mansfield.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Case number 5:16-cv-01142