Two Republican members of Congress are suing the California cities of Anaheim and Riverside for allegedly conspiring to suppress and shut down their political rallies, infringing on their constitutional rights to free speech.
U.S. House Representatives Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)—both ardent supporters of former President Donald Trump—filed the lawsuit (pdf) in federal court on July 13. They claim city officials in both Anaheim and Riverside, as well as a number of groups, including the Riverside County Democratic Party, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Women’s March Action, Antiracist Riverside, and Occupy Democrats, “by force, intimidation, or threat” conspired to pressure city officials in Riverside and Anaheim and the owner and manager of The Grand Theater to cancel the rallies.
