Ellington

JACKSON (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union is fighting a plan to ban saggy pants in Hinds County.

The group plans a Monday protest against a ban proposed by Hinds County Supervisor Kenneth Stokes. The protest precedes a public hearing on the proposed law.

The civil liberties group says such bans unfairly target black men and are unconstitutional restrictions of freedom of expression. Though proponents of the ban say such low-riding pants are indecent, the ACLU says no one is harmed by the clothing style.

Columbia, Columbus, Guntown, Indianola, Meridian, Ripley, Saltillo and Wiggins are among the Mississippi cities that have banned saggy pants recently. Their ordinances prohibit anyone from wearing pants or skirts that ride more than three inches below the top of hips and which expose skin or underwear.