In Al-Amin v. City of New York (E.D.N.Y. 1997) 979 F. Supp. 168, the plaintiffs were four African-American Muslims who were arrested and issued summons for unlawful vending. They sued the city pursuant to 42 United States Code section 1983 for violation of their constitutional rights, and under state law for racial and religious discrimination. Their complaint sought damages for false arrest and imprisonment, as well as a declaration that the vending laws violated their constitutional rights to free exercise of religion and free speech.