Three Christian street preachers arrested in downtown Chicago have had all charges dropped after a months-long legal battle that has now shifted to federal court.

The American Center for Law and Justice claims their clients’ arrests violated constitutional rights, and a federal civil rights case against the city remains active despite the dismissal of all criminal charges, CBN reported.

Brett Raio, Reetik Dhamala, and Perez Ndi were initially detained in December 2024 near Millennium Park while publicly preaching with a small sound system. According to legal filings, they were approached by law enforcement after a complaint was made by a nearby individual who appeared to be angered by their message.

Trying to defuse the situation, the preachers reportedly repositioned their speaker, but that did not appease the complainant. Chicago police soon arrived and asked the group to reduce the volume and present a permit for their activity.

One of the preachers, Raio, responded that there was “no permit for the First Amendment,” according to a lawsuit later filed by the ACLJ. When an officer attempted to confiscate the speaker, Raio resisted, claiming they were lawfully exercising their right to free expression. He was arrested shortly after.

Controversial Arrest Spurs Civil Rights Lawsuit

The interaction was recorded and later presented as evidence during a Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings session held on Feb. 21, 2025. The court eventually dropped the charges stemming from the December incident.

Despite their legal victory, the following day, Feb. 22, Raio and his colleagues returned to the same location and were arrested again under similar circumstances. The ACLJ continued its legal challenge, contending that the recurring police action represented a pattern of unconstitutional behavior.

The attorneys argued that official actions taken against their clients infringed on both free speech and religious expression. They claimed the enforcement showed disregard for clearly established rights under the First Amendment.

Court Proceedings Reveal City Unprepared

The case then progressed through the Chicago court system, prompting multiple hearings, trial preparations, and continuances. According to statements from ACLJ associate counsel Liam R. Harrell, the defendants were repeatedly required to appear in court over several months.

“Chicago made these young men go through almost six months of court hearings,” Harrell said. “All for, at the last minute, for the city of Chicago to be unprepared.”

The judge ultimately dismissed the case after city officials were not ready to proceed on the scheduled trial date. By then, the matter had garnered national attention due to its implications for public religious expression and street preaching.

Concerns Over Future Enforcement Remain

Although the criminal charges are no longer in effect, the underlying civil litigation filed in federal court remains pending. The ACLJ has stated the importance of moving forward with its lawsuit to prevent future incidents from occurring.

“They can go back out onto the streets and continue to evangelize and preach,” Harrell said. “But unfortunately, because our federal case is still pending, their ability to preach... is being chilled and threatened by potential further enforcement.”

The group also raised concerns that continued police pressure might deter others from sharing their views publicly. Harrell warned that the city’s approach could affect not just religious speakers, but all forms of expression protected by the First Amendment.

Broader Implications for Free Speech Rights

In one of the longer statements released following the arrests, Harrell said, “This alarming development demonstrates a pattern of enforcement that disregards well-established constitutional protections.”

He emphasized that the arrests and pending litigation could have consequences beyond the immediate case. “If the city is intent on continuing to silence street preachers through unlawful arrests, this could have broad implications for free speech – not just for religious speakers, but for anyone engaging in public expression.”

Raio, during the original December encounter, told the individual who had opposed their presence, “This is the best we can do because we still want everyone to hear the Gospel, you know,” according to the filed lawsuit. That quote became symbolic of the tensions at the heart of this legal conflict.