WAL-MART PROTEST

Ukiah - Eight Mendocino County residents filed suit against Wal-Mart
Friday, claiming the store violated their civil rights by having them
arrested during a recent protest.

The protesters were speaking out in front of the store against the arrest
of a man last year who was gathering signatures for a legalized marijuana
initiative.

Wal-Mart workers placed the protesters under citizens arrest, a move the
eight said denied them their state constitutional rights.The attorney for
the plaintiffs said court decisions have allowed people the right to free
speech and assembly at privately owned shopping centers because those
locales have the characteristics of a public forum.