CLAREMONT - The Chamber of Commerce responded to a lawsuit by the Claremont Police Officers Association on Tuesday, disputing that it violated the association's rights to distribute fliers at Village Venture in October.
The association in its suit alleged its right to freedom of expression was violated at the arts and crafts event when the chamber refused to allow association members to hand out fliers related to their contract negotiations with the city.
"The Claremont Chamber of Commerce has had a long and productive relationship with the Claremont Police Department," said an email by chamber CEO Maureen Aldridge. "We are surprised and concerned that the Claremont Police Officers' Association (CPOA) has named the Chamber in a lawsuit and is alleging that the Chamber violated CPOA's First Amendment rights at the 30th annual Village Venture."
According to the statement, CPOA asked the chamber in October for permission to hand out fliers at Village Venture. All booth space had been assigned by August, but a chamber representative told the association that its members could distribute fliers at the Police Department's command post.
However, Police Chief Paul Cooper told the association members they could not distribute their fliers at the command post.
After the association members moved their table into the Arts and Crafts vendor area without permission, the chamber asked CPOA to remove the table in fairness to the paid vendors, according to the chamber's statement.
The chamber representative told the association its members could walk through the crowds and distribute fliers, according to the statement.
"The CPOA was simply asked to follow the same rules as everyone else and to remove a table from an unauthorized area," said the statement.
On the flier the association distributed was the phrase "Why Is City Council Gambling With Your Safety?" and an image of a hooded man with a gun and a flashlight. Statements on the flier such as "Police budget reduced," "97 sex offenders" and "1,908 parolees" are imposed on a roulette wheel.
The lawsuit, which cites violations of the First and 14th amendments, was filed in the U.S. District Court Central District of California on Dec. 14.
Dieter Dammeier, an attorney for the Claremont Police Officers Association, said on Monday he has not heard a response from the city or the chamber.
On Tuesday night, city officials met in closed session to discuss the lawsuit.
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