FREE SPEECH WILL COST YOU
You've got to pay it to say it.. at least on public grounds.. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania's city council passed a new ordinance requiring a group of 2 or more people pay a fee before they publicly protest.. The ordinance faced some criticism .. Some feared it was a violation of civil liberties at the least and Constitutional rights of assembly at the most.
According to the Wilkes Barre CITIZEN'S VOICE, changes can be made before council votes on the ordinance on final reading on February 28 .. this according to Assistant Solicitor Bill Vinsko.
The reason for the fee requirement, says the city, is not to limit freedom of speech but instead to have a police presence in case of violence or disorderly conduct.
While there may be abilities under the First Amendment for a government body to impose requirements on people wishing to protest on public grounds, there is case law that makes it unconstitutional for a government body to pick and choose what protests it likes and what it doesn't like.
And with that in mind, the CITZEN'S VOICE reported that Vinsko said, "If you apply for a permit, you’re going to get a permit."
The VOICE however, also reporting that Wilkes-Barre activist Tim Grier fears loopholes.. The VOICE reports, "Political activist Tim Grier also questioned the need for the ordinance. 'Loopholes' would allow the city to deny permits and block certain areas that may be a "more effective place for somebody to draw attention to their cause," Grier said."
The VOICE noted that during the council meeting, Grier addressed the Council. The Council's Chairwoman asked him to take off his hat. He didn't.
posted by schmuckraker @ 2/16/2008 09:00:00 PM
News
6 Comments:
Thank you for drawing attention to the issues here in NEPA!
I know a bunch of you may think it's not good, but this is perfectly legal. Cities or states can do this, the federal government can do this.
I understand the feeling of creeping rules that may limit the easy access for public protest, but under case law and constitutional law there is no reason to think on face value what this city is doing is against anyone's rights.
Now, if someone has their right to assembly cut off because of a loophole like the activist was quoted as saying, that's the problem.
But look around the country, this is happening everywhere. It's not like the old days. It's a new world out there, so we have to get used to it and live with it.
We don't have to get used to and live with anything - that's what revolutions are for!
TIM GRIER IS FROM LAWTON OKLAHOMA!!!!
HE'S A TRANSIENT PROTESTER HAVING PASSED THROUGH SEVERAL PA TOWNS LOOKING FOR A FREE EDUCATION>>>THAT IS STEALING!!!
I got the same comment on my blog. My response:
While I don't normally give any credence to anonymous comments made in ALL CAPS, I may as well ask: you got any evidence for any of those statements?
- From Lawton, Oklahoma?
- Transient protestor passing through several small PA towns?
- Looking for a free education?
I have uncovered some evidence that Tim Grier is a Freshman from Nebraska who in 2007 posted a time of 52.60 seconds in the Men's 400 Meter Hurdles...
He's a hurdler alright...he puts them up.
He's 33 still in school...if you reside in PA you get a BIG discount on state funded schools as a "resident".
And he's def from Lawton, OK
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