UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION BIBLE BELIEVERS, RUBEN CHAVEZ, ARTHUR FISHER, and JOSHUA DELOSSANTOS, Plaintiffs, v. WAYNE COUNTY, BENNY N. NAPOLEON, in his official capacity as Sheriff, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, DENNIS RICHARDSON, individually and in his official capacity as Deputy Chief, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and MIKE JAAFAR, individually and in his official capacity as Deputy Chief, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Defendants. Case No. 2:12-cv-14236 Hon. Patrick J. Duggan

OPINION AND ORDER

This case, like many cases with constitutional implications, grapples with the reconciliation of competing interests: “the right to disseminate ideas in public places as against claims of an effective power in government to keep the peace and to protect other interests of a civilized community.”

 Niemotko v. Maryland 

, 340 U.S. 268, 273-74, 71 S. Ct. 325, 328 (1951) (Frankfurter, J., concurring). Plaintiffs, a group of traveling Christian evangelicals, attended the

 

Arab International Festival in Dearborn, Michigan on June 15, 2012. Due to concerns about public safety and public order, law enforcement officials employed by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office escorted Plaintiffs away from

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2 the Festival, indicating that if Plaintiffs did not leave, they would be cited for disorderly conduct. Plaintiffs brought suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, seeking to vindicate their First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion, as well as their equal  protection rights secured by the Fourteenth Amendment. Plaintiffs initiated this civil rights action against Defendant Wayne County as well as three named persons: (1) Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, who is sued in his official capacity; (2) Deputy Chief Dennis Richardson, who is sued in both his individual and official capacities; and (3) Deputy Chief Mike Jaafar, who is also sued in both his individual and official capacities. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief, nominal damages, and costs and expenses. Presently before the Court are (1) Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (ECF No. 22), (2) Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, or in the Alternative, Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, (ECF No. 13), and (3) Plaintiffs’ Motion to Dismiss and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, (ECF No. 20). The issues have been fully briefed and a motion hearing was held on May 7, 2013. For the reasons stated herein, the Court grants summary judgment in favor of Defendants.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

 

A. The Arab International Festival Background

Each summer, the City of Dearborn, located in southeastern Michigan, hosts a three-day Arab International Festival (the “Festival”). The Festival, which is free and open to the public, attracts approximately 250,000 people each year and features carnival attractions, a stage with live entertainment, international food, and merchandise sales.

Saieg v. City of Dearborn

, 641 F.3d 727, 730 (6th Cir. 2011). The Festival grounds,

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3 comprised of public streets and sidewalks, encompasses approximately fourteen city  blocks. (Defs.’ Br. 1.) In 2012, the Festival contained “twenty-six artisan vendors, thirty-seven information tables and/or food vendors, and twenty-two sponsor booths[.]” (

 Id.

 (citing Exs. B, C).) Included among these booths were “a number of groups with a Christian or non-Muslim religious message including Christian Aid Ministries, Merriman Baptist Church, Josh McDowell Ministry, Rivers of Life, Light & Life Arabic Free Methodist Church, and Impact International Ministries.” (

 Id.

 at 2.)

B. The Parties

 Plaintiffs Ruben Chavez (also known as Ruben Israel and referred to herein as “Israel”), Arthur Fisher, and Joshua DeLosSantos – all traveling Christian evangelists – are members of Plaintiff Bible Believers. The individual plaintiffs traveled with other members of Bible Believers to the Festival in 2012

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 in order to share and express their Christian faith with other Festival attendees. Plaintiffs do this “through free speech activities, including street preaching and displaying signs, banners, and t-shirts with Christian messages and Scripture quotes.” (Pls.’ Resp. 4.) The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office was the exclusive law enforcement agency for the Festival. (Defs.’ Br. 4.) Intelligence gathered prior to the 2012 Festival “revealed that a number of organizations, including Pastor Terry Jones and Plaintiff Bible Believers[,] intended to attend the Festival in order to provoke patrons of the crowd on video camera.” (

 Id.

 at 3 (citing Operations Plan, Defs.’ Mot. Ex. E, at § 2.0).) “Accordingly, the Sheriff’s Department adopted a mission statement to ‘provide Wayne

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 Israel also attended the Festival in 2011.

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