Mexican Flag Burning Suit Goes to Federal Court

SAN ANTONIO (AP) _ A lawsuit alleging First Amendment free speech violations in the burning of a Mexican flag in front of the Alamo two years ago has been moved to federal court from state court.

David Bohmfalk alleges in his lawsuit against the city of San Antonio, park rangers and The Daughters of the Republic of Texas that he was falsely imprisoned, maliciously prosecuted and defamed.

The lawsuit was moved Friday.

Lawyers for the city and The Daughters of the Republic have denied most of the allegations in court-filed responses, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Bohmfalk, 48, says he burned the Mexican flag on May 17, 2007, to protest a Senate bill that would have given amnesty to millions of unauthorized immigrants. The measure did not become law.

The lawsuit said Bohmfalk was detained more than an hour and called a terrorist before officers cited him with illegal burning without a permit.

Prosecutors dismissed the charge once Bohmfalk made a public plea. No fine was collected.

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