Sister responds to ACLU lawsuit

Sister responds to ACLU lawsuit

Behalf of multiple organizations and protesters who were against the federal executions that took place last month.

One of those groups is the sisters of providence.

News 10's richard solomon spoke with a sister about the lawsuit and how she says state police violated her rights.

Richar} i spoke with sister barbara battista of the sisters of providance.

She says state police violated their first amendent right by not providing them a satisfactory location for federal executions.

Pk} the sisters of providence are supporting a lawsuit against the indiana state police.

They released a statement in support of the lawsuit filed by the american civil liberties union of indiana or aclu.

Sister barbara battista was at the protests.

"we felt like we were being unduly limited.

We wanted to be physically as close as we possible could be to that site" the lawsuit claims how state police forced protestors miles away from the prison.

Battista says the federal bureau of prisons had guidelines in place for demonstrating.

"the process that they set up for us was to meet in a city park several hours before a scheduled execution.

The heat and humidity and not free access to your own vehicle, we felt like it was unsafe."

This was one of the areas.

Battista says they would've had to have been bussed into the area.

She says this wasn't satisfactory to them.

So protestors gathered at the intersection of u.s. 41 and springhill.

Battista says this was nearly 2 miles away from the prison.

"this was as good as it was going to get with having our own freedoms and our own liberty to come and go and get out of the heat and get into some shade" the lawsuit requests the u.s. district court of southern indiana enter an injunction.

Battista says they want to be able to protest immediately outside of the main entrance of the prison.

"to be limited in that regard was, i was disappointed.

We want to keep sending that message."

Richar} the next federal execution in terre haute is scheduled for later this month.

Battista says they do plan to protest that one as well.

Back to you.