A change of mind by the Medina County Parks Department after it first banned an anti-fracking group from participating in Saturday's Medina Earth Day celebration. Concerned Citizens of Medina County was told earlier this week it couldn't participate in the celebration because the group was "too controversial"

But the American Civil LIberties Union got involved. Christine Link, Executive Director of the ACLU of Ohio, tells AkronNewsNow  " The ACLU sent a letter to the Board explaining that this was a violation of the first amendment. Since this was a government sponsored activity it cannot pick and choose among viewpoints."

Link says the the anti-fracking citizens group has now been informed by the parks board that it will be allowed to participate. " They were thinking about at the time giving the group the opportunity to participate in a lecture series, and that may still come about. But they also agreed that the group should have table space at the event."

Link says the Medina County Parks Board can't as a government body ban the first amendment right of free speech.