Nov 18th, 2009
Posted by Alex Young and Leslie Weise at 4:33pm	Right to Protest

Public Free Speech Under Attack

This morning in a federal court building in Denver, Colorado, lawyers for two Bush administration operatives argued for legal protection of a policy to silence the public at taxpayer-funded public meetings.

Lawyers representing the Bush administration “volunteers” argued that there was not an obviously established right to have an opposing opinion in a taxpayer-funded meeting and therefore the court should not allow the case against them to even be presented.

Fortunately, a member of the three-judge panel pointed out a flaw in this argument, stating, for instance, that any child knows that a student can't be removed from a classroom just because they have a viewpoint that is different from the teacher.

The American Civil Liberties Union argued that this kind of limit on speech is so draconian that, if upheld, it would allow even city councils to ban people from meetings if they disliked the point of view they may have.

A dangerous precedent could be established, allowing viewpoint discrimination in buildings which are not wholly owned by the government, and would allow politicians to effectively ban free speech simply by using private property to hold public meetings.

The federal court system has been glacially slow; today's argument comes some 4 1/2 years after we were removed from a public town-hall style meeting in Denver about altering Social Security solely because the Bush administration didn't like the bumper sticker on the car we arrived in. We have yet to be allowed even to argue the facts of the case.

Hopefully the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals will rule in our favor and this case will see the light of day. Anything short of that sets a precedent which is lethal to free speech.

Permalink |	Right to Protest

1. David Elkins Says:
   Nov 18th, 2009 at 7:24pm

   Free speech is a pereceived danger to any corrupt government that does not have the support or approval of the people and can be a detrament to agenda!

2. Anonymous Says:
   Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:18am

   MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AT THE ACLU.

3. SUPPORT OATHKEEPERS! Says:
   Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:42pm

   Oath Keepers will NOT obey any orders which infringe on the right of the people to free speech, to peaceably assemble, and to petition their government for a redress of grievances.

   OATHKEEPERS.org

4. Lee Hussin Says:
   Nov 23rd, 2009 at 6:16pm

   If free speech is such a concern of the ACLU then why cant i pray anywhere at any time I want to, but must keep my prayers in the box you are creating. At a time when funds are so short y do insist upon wasting so much money on your lawsuits created to extinguish Christianity.

5. Anonymous Says:
   Nov 26th, 2009 at 9:05am

   Why do you always focus on the headline grabbing First amendment issues when there are so many little ones that are just as important to the freedoms of the people. What about the poor and indigent?

6. Ken C. Says:
   Nov 29th, 2009 at 11:12am

   If free speech is such a concern of the ACLU then why cant i pray anywhere at any time I want to...

   Of course you can pray any time you want to, and the ACLU has never tried to stop you. What the ACLU is against, as I understand it, is giving you taxpayer dollars to advance your religion, and in particular, to force your religious practices on others. To you, that's "extinguishing Christianity".

7. last of the real americans Says:
   Dec 2nd, 2009 at 11:29pm

   i say we should look at the real problem,and that problem is the goverment,that now is taking all of are rights away.i mean just look at the things they do,spying on the public,telling you what and where you can do things.,they can come on your property like they own it.,and no one seems to think anything is wrong with this.,well this is not the u.s.a i use to know.is it the same one you use to know.we use to be free,not told how to be.and dont you have to be born here to be the pres.,of this country.,well i think so.we need to take our coutry back from corrution goverment.........

8. Sidharta Chatterjee Says:
   Dec 4th, 2009 at 11:18am

   My Free Speech ! American Politics, and its all about better world. How would you define American Contributions to this world in a simple way? Well, they think big, and they think good for everyone. They believe in themselves and in humanity. Americans think different than the Germans or the Japanese, and that’s the reason they are great thinkers. They think passionately, vividly and they are enthusiasts. Their thinking’s are incredible to that sense it makes some sense. Off all the Nobel Prizes given to this world, around 60% went to the Americans. Not that they are selfish, but that they work untiringly for the benefit of themselves and the World, they think well beyond 50 years or often 100 years ahead of them. You can always rely on the Americans or the Europeans, but you can never believe the Chinese or the Japanese, because, they think differently, albeit, they are selfish, and much angled. You can say this century belong to the Chinese, but don’t ever forget the Yankees, because they have built an empire to last for ever. They have learnt lessons from the Greeks, the Romans, even the Indians and they know that they can keep on going and that too, forever. Think about their artistic and cultural creativity. The country is barely 300 years old, but has given this world so much to last for the next few thousand years. No other civilizations have contributed so much to the mankind. Note how they have utilized the productivity of capital that helped advance this civilization. The Americans have given a new meaning to Human Capital and productivity. Well, that gives rise to consumerism, commerce and competition. The American put every ingredient to be perfect. In music, in arts and architecture, in science and technology, and in peace and prosperity, Americans think the best of all. Well, we the Indians, the Chinese, the Asians are learning to be like the Americans, but it’s got to be true, that, we can never be like those Yankees. Never ever we can be so altruistic. Because, we are singled, angled, selfish and we only believe what we see the Yankees do about. We have lost our creativity, but are learning fast again to think little differently, for our sake of brevity. Sacrifices! Well, this is all the stuff that a country requires to be in a perfect position, and keep other countries in disposition. Convergence of self-belief and divergence in thinking makes a country great. They know hoe to celebrate, and mourn too. They think about feelings, and that’s what makes them understand this world in a much different way. They understand the sufferings, and they always learned from previous mistakes. The reasons the Americans are great healers. The last thing of all, they create and share knowledge for the sake of this world. And they act in advance when they feel threatened. Americans need to defend themselves, and then only can they defend this world. They know how to acknowledge the best, and this they have learned from the Europeans. And Americans never give up. They believe that everything is possible. As such, God is with them. I am perhaps the greatest fan of Chinese culture, and China, but I believe in what I have quoted above. Now there are pacifists out there, tell me if I am wrong being an Indian. Long Live The Americans! Sidharta Chatterjee International Economist & Research Scholar

9. Luana Conley Says:
   Dec 6th, 2009 at 7:32pm

   The Marina Democratic Club (California) has just been informed that they are not welcome to carry their banner at the Martin Luther King Day March. We are working on a response and strategy. Comments or legal links are welcome. Our neighboring City of Monterey just went through the same issue with political groups wishing to participate in their Fourth of July parade, and decided in favor of inclusiveness. We can hope for the same outcome, but we'll be there.

10. Rita Walpole Ague Says:
    Dec 8th, 2009 at 3:01pm

    Proof that ACLU is working well in restoring and protectiving the rule of law, particularly civil rights: The super fusion center of Colorado Springs, is a place where govt. operatives (a.k.a. 'spooks' and retired but still active 'spoks' who tell local authorities how and when to brutalize, torture, etc. peaceful peace demonstrators, etc.). Then infiltration and takeover of justice, peace, poltical, etc. organizations, including the ACLU, takes place. Said organizations are rendered impotent and useless. Info./documentation re. same is currently being gathered and organized and is making its way, as per DOJ directions, to the U.S. Dept. of Justice, where new appointees are (it's about time)investigating the abandoning of the rule of law, and demolition of civil rights. Let's hope...

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