Franklin V. Goodridge, Jr. of Ellicott City, Maryland was sued in August in federal court after he and members of his group, Men Against Pornography, began conducting regular demonstrations on public property outside the Pack Shack in the 84-hundred block of Baltimore National Pile in Ellicott City in June. In an answer filed in U.S. District Court in Baltimore today, Mr. Goodridge denied any wrongdoing and brought his own countersuit against the Pack Shack. The countersuit alleges that the demonstrations outside the Pack Shack have been peaceful, lawful, and situated on public property and that the First Amendment protects these demonstrations. At the same time, the countersuit requests a federal court order declaring Mr. Goodridge's right to demonstrate peacefully on public property outside the store. The countersuit also points out that the Pack Shack has a front room, open to children, offering the sale of comic books.
Pornographic material is on display in the next room and is visible from the front room.
Our actions have been totally within the law. We are concerned about the moral landscape of our neighborhood, and we have a constitutional right to express that view. Mr. Goodridge has enlisted the support of the community in his fight against the Pack Shack by mobilizing local churches, business and community leaders, and by collecting nearly 3.000 signatures from area residents who want the store to leave the neighborhood. Mr. Goodridge and other concerned citizens also urged government officials and the owner of the property where the Pack Shack is located to get rid of the pron business. We are asking the court to protect the free speech rights of Mr. Goodridge so that this intimidation tactic will not succeed.