Army Vet Sues Georgia City after Being Arrested for Holding 'God Bless the Homeless Vets' Sign

Amanda Casanova | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Published: Feb 02, 2023
Army Vet Sues Georgia City after Being Arrested for Holding 'God Bless the Homeless Vets' Sign

Army Vet Sues Georgia City after Being Arrested for Holding 'God Bless the Homeless Vets' Sign

A U.S. Army veteran is suing a Georgia city after he was arrested for holding a sign with the phrase “God bless the homeless Vets” written on it.

Jeff Gray filed two lawsuits this week, saying he was harassed for holding the sign. In one suit, he is suing the city of Alpharetta, Georgia. In another, he is suing Blackshear Police Chief Chris Wright, The Christian Post reports.

“Gray’s speech about the plight of homeless veterans — whether ‘panhandling’ or not — and his subsequent questioning of Lt. Furr’s actions, was clearly established as protected political expression,” stated the complaint. “Even if Gray was ‘panhandling,’ it is clearly established that the First Amendment protects speakers asking others for help.”

Gray was arrested and charged with allegedly violating the city’s anti-panhandling policy. He was also cited for allegedly violating an ordinance against “holding a parade, procession, or demonstration” without permission from the Blackshear City Council.

“But the First Amendment is Gray’s permission slip. Indeed, a half-century ago, the United States Supreme Court made this clear by striking down an almost-identical ordinance in Birmingham, Alabama,” the suit says.

He is represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

“Jeff Gray doesn’t need a government-issued permission slip to speak — the First Amendment is his permission slip,” said FIRE attorney Harrison Rosenthal in a Wednesday statement.

“Speaking out in public areas is a core First Amendment right, whether government officials recognize it or not. If our cities won’t teach officers to do their job properly, FIRE will.”

Gray runs a YouTube channel called “HonorYourOath Civil Rights Investigations.” He says he is a “civil rights investigator, First Amendment auditor, Second Amendment auditor.”

Gray has previously been arrested for his activism efforts. In 2021, he was charged with disorderly conduct for walking around city hall with a sign that read, “F— City Hall.”

He filed a complaint against the city of Moultrie, Georgia, after the arrest.

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Nito100


Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.



Army Vet Sues Georgia City after Being Arrested for Holding 'God Bless the Homeless Vets' Sign