MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — A Myrtle Beach street preacher who says city police barred him from openly sharing his religious beliefs during a 2019 motorcycle rally headed to trial Tuesday morning.
Brian Cranford hopes a jury will agree that officers and city leaders violated his First Amendment rights when they forced only him and several associates to leave Plyler Park and turn off a sound system.
One of Cranford’s associates was later arrested along a public sidewalk, according to court documents.
“Plaintiff wishes to continue exercising his constitutional rights, and has specific and concrete intentions to continue engaging in the exercise of his constitutional rights … but is fearful of being cited and/or arrested for exercising his constitutional and civil rights,” Cranford’s attorneys wrote in an Oct. 31, 2019 lawsuit.
In response to Cranford’s allegations, city leaders said Cranford and his group were given “ample opportunity” to express their beliefs, but chose to violate local noise ordinances while blocking pedestrian and vehicle traffic along Ocean Boulevard.