DOUGLAS, Mich. — Members of a political group who write messages on public sidewalks every week in Douglas were told recently that their chalk writings are illegal.

Some of them appeared at the city council meeting tonight as members discussed the matter and hoped to set the record straight about a city ordinance.

“Our attorney, in referencing our ordinance, said, since the content is neutral and the restrictions on conduct and not on speech, it is within the city's power to stop this whenever it occurs,” said city council member Matt Balmer.

Balmer was one of a number of Douglas city council members Monday night who argued it’s against city ordinance for the local ‘Good Trouble Indivisible’ group to write in chalk on city property, including sidewalks.

The ordinance they cite states i

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