2 men sue mayor, alleging Facebook ban unconstitutional

Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt is seen September 22, 2020. File photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (AP) — Two men have sued a Rhode Island mayor they allege violated their First Amendment Rights by deleting critical posts they made on her Facebook page and then banning them entirely.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island said Thursday that Greg Duhamel was banned when he made a post challenging Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt’s attempt to claim credit for the building of a skate park.

Thomas Dubois was banned after making a comment about construction taking place at a local park.

A city attorney says the suit is moot because the mayor has unblocked the two men from what he called her personal Facebook page.