( CHARISMA) -- A Christian woman who was booted from a public bus because she handed out Bibles has filed a federal suit against Milwaukee, Wis., transportation officials. Gail Anderson, 56, sued the Milwaukee County Department of Public Works and Transportation Division, claiming her right to free speech was violated.

The suit originated when Anderson - who has regularly used the Milwaukee transit system since 1999 -- recently offered free copies of The Book of Hope Bible to those sitting around her. But after the bus driver saw her, he instructed her to stop, stating that distributing any literature on the bus violated a transportation policy. The driver then escorted Anderson off the bus and she was forced to walk home. The policy states that no person riding on the bus system may distribute any form of literature.

The lawsuit claims that the policy is overbroad and not uniformly enforced.

"[This] reminds me of the discrimination that Rosa Parks faced when she was told to sit in the back of the bus solely because of the color of her skin," said Mathew Staver of the Liberty Counsel, which is representing Anderson.

"Passengers don't shed their constitutional rights when they enter public transportation venues," he added. "People exchange addresses, business cards, newspapers or books all the time on public buses. It is unconstitutional to ban all literature distribution or to single out the Christian viewpoint."

© 2003 charismanews.com
© 2003 Maranatha Christian News Service