Artists
St. Augustine has long been a cool colony for artists, drawing inspiration from the natural beauty that surrounds St. Augustine. St. Augustine was the largest artist's colony in the South from 1930-1950. Artists have challenged local laws, and are currently in Federal Court asserting their First Amendment rights.
In response, on May 12, 2009, United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard ordered the City of St. Augustine to stop arresting artists as if they were "vendors," issuing a preliminary injunction against enforcing St. Augustine City Ordinance No. 22-6.
Bruce Bates; Richard Childs; Elena Hecht; and Kate Merrick vs. City of St. Augustine, Florida). Case No. 3:09-CV-205-J-34MCR.
Artists have been arrested in the Plaza de la Constitución. Artists successfully argued that the local laws restricting them from selling their art in the Plaza are overbroad, violate the First Amendment, specifically because they do not provide reasonable alternative locations to sell their art and the Plaza is the central place in the Historic District where most tourists and locals visit.