The Kansas Supreme Court could strike down a Wichita ordinance used to arrest a protester

Gabrielle Griffie was charged with disorderly conduct in Wichita after a 2020 protest. Her lawyers say that violates her First Amendment rights.
TOPEKA, Kansas — Kansas Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical Tuesday of a Wichita city ordinance used to justify arresting a protester.

They will decide whether the ordinance is a violation of First Amendment rights.

In 2020, Gabrielle Griffie led a protest over the death of George Floyd. The group marched through Wichita, even walking through streets and blocking some traffic. The demonstration ended at the steps of the federal courthouse.

Nobody was arrested the day of the protest. But Wichita Police watched social media videos after it happened and charged Griffie with disorderly conduct for blocking traffic.

Court documents say the streets were almost entirely empty, but one car had a brief interaction with protesters. Griffie did not interact with the car, but she helped set up the event.

At the heart of the debate is a city ordinance outlawing "noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others." That was used to justify her charge.