Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Sheriff Scott Jones Blocked Sacramento Black Lives Matter Leaders From Commenting On His Facebook Page. Now, They’re Suing.

  •  Bob Moffitt 
Wednesday, January 30, 2019 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones.

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

Leaders of the local Black Lives Matter chapter are suing Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones after he blocked them from posting on his Facebook page. They say his move violates their rights to free speech.

Tanya Faison and Sonia Lewis say they Jones banned them last fall after posting critical comments on his Facebook page.

"I made the same comments and then he deleted them in real time. They were deleted immediately," Faison said Wednesday during a news conference at the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California’s offices in downtown Sacramento.

The ACLU chapter filed the lawsuit on behalf of Faison and Lewis. Attorney Sean Riordan says Jones’ Facebook page differs from others because it is a public place for discussion, not a private one where people can view content only after being invited.  

"Sheriff Jones' Facebook page constitutes a public forum. In a public forum, this kind of censorship based on the content of speech is impermissible," Riordan said.

He said there is precedent for the suit: three U.S. governors and President Trump have lost court cases after deleting the posts or blocking people from commenting on their social media accounts.

The complaint also alleges discrimination based on Faison and Lewis’ views and their identities as leaders of Black Lives Matter.

Jones, who is the only defendant in the case, declined to discuss the suit. Neither the sheriff’s department nor its Facebook page are named in the suit.

Read the full complaint here:


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

Bob Moffitt

Former Sacramento Region Reporter

Bob reported on all things northern California and Nevada. His coverage of police technology, local athletes, and the environment has won a regional Associated Press and several Edward R. Murrow awards.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Yolo County Resource Conservation District

How a new law is bringing more attention to natural carbon sequestration

February 6, 2023

Pool/Getty Images

Cómo escuchar la cobertura bilingüe del Estado de la Unión de NPR

February 7, 2023

AP Photo / Jae C. Hong

California ends plans for kids’ Covid vaccine mandate

February 1, 2023

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Las Vegas airport reports record passenger volume in 2022

In Turkey and Syria, outdated building methods all but assured disaster from a quake

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California ends plans for kids’ Covid vaccine mandate

How a new law is bringing more attention to natural carbon sequestration

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Las Vegas airport reports record passenger volume in 2022

In Turkey and Syria, outdated building methods all but assured disaster from a quake

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California ends plans for kids’ Covid vaccine mandate

How a new law is bringing more attention to natural carbon sequestration

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.