Saginaw City Council: "Nuisance Gatherings" Ordinance

The city council of Saginaw, Michigan, proposed an ordinance that would prohibit certain events — defined broadly enough to potentially include protests and other expressive activity — as “nuisance gatherings” if any attendee commits one of the listed unlawful acts. Those who host or attend such gatherings would be held criminally responsible for others’ unlawful conduct. On August 17, 2026, FIRE wrote the city council explaining that the ordinance would violate the First Amendment’s prohibition on guilt by association and urging the council to reject it.