Sunday, September 16, 2012



Utah city's "free-speech zones" challenged as unconstitutional‏

The American Civil Liberties Union has sued a Utah city in federal court over a "free-speech zone" ordinance, saying the Orwellian-named measure unconstitutionally requires a permit for almost any form of public expression.

The lawsuit was filed against Brigham City on Tuesday on behalf of the Main Street Church, a non-denominational faith barred under the municipal statute from distributing pamphlets on some sidewalks near a new Mormon temple in town.

Brigham City, a predominantly Mormon town of about 18,000 people, is about 60 miles north of Salt Lake City, the state capital.
The ordinance in question requires any individual or group wishing to stage a demonstration, hand out literature or engage in other forms of public expression to seek a municipal permit establishing an approved "free-speech" zone for that activity.

The permit, if granted, can include limits on the time, place and number of participants. Violations are punishable by civil fines of up to $750 or a misdemeanor criminal prosecution that carries a penalty of up to 90 days in jail.

"The overbreadth of Brigham City's 'Free Speech Zone' Ordinance is breathtaking," John Mejia, legal director of the ACLU of Utah, said in a written statement.  "Under this ordinance, you would arguably have to apply for a permit to engage in nearly any speech in the city," he said. "The ordinance could be used to silence anyone, from two friends debating politics on the sidewalk to a missionary handing out fliers."

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, asks a federal judge to declare the ordinance unconstitutional and seeks an injunction barring its enforcement.

The city said in a statement later in the day that the measure was not intended for "restricting freedom of speech, but for public and protester safety" and was based on other state and local laws believed to have been upheld by the courts.

On August 18, Main Street Church Pastor Jim Catlin sought a permit to publicly distribute religious-themed literature on the sidewalks surrounding a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple during a month-long open house for the new building, according to the lawsuit.

Brigham City officials issued a permit limiting access for Catlin's group between August 21 and September 15 to three areas on lesser-trafficked sidewalks and capped the number of permitted pamphleteers at four, the lawsuit said.

Source

20 comments:

Bird of Paradise said...

I want absolutly nothing to do with the leftists ACLU

Anonymous said...

"The overbreadth of Brigham City's 'Free Speech Zone' Ordinance is breathtaking," John Mejia, legal director of the ACLU of Utah, said in a written statement.

The ACLU has it right this time.

Anonymous said...

The ACLU has it right ALL the time.

Anonymous said...

Yes they do, Anon 2:47, if you're a communist.

But on this one occassion, i must say they have this one right.

Anonymous said...

"Yes they do, Anon 2:47, if you're a communist."

Just because the ACLU support causes and cases that right wing theocratic fascists dislike does not mean that everyone has issue with the ACLU.

Anonymous said...

Just because people oppose the ACLU's meddling with peoples freedom of religion does not make someone a fascist. In America today, Christians certainly want to share their faith with others but they aren't forcing others to.accept it. Liberals in general and the ACLU in particular love to run around imposing their world view on everyone else.

Anonymous said...

Does the ACLU challenge liberal universities with their "free speech zones" where you only have some free speech rights in certain areas of campis?

Anonymous said...

The ACLU tends to represent individuals, not universities.

Anonymous said...

Libs in action

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/adrienne-pine-defends-classroom-breastfeeding-130939169--abc-news-parenting.html

Anonymous said...

Consider the following: did you know that "Dammit I'm Mad" spelled backwards is "Dammit I'm Mad"

Dean said...

I seldom agree with the ACLU, but if the story tells the truth, this time they do have it right.

Permits may be needed for events that will cause disruption of traffic or business - parades, rallies, concerts come to mind.

But requiring a permit for a small group to hand out pamphlets goes beyond government authority.

Go Away Bird said...

The ACLU was founded by a communist its a leftists organization

Anonymous said...

In fact, the aclu was founded by members of the Communist Party of America, a fact their history clearly shows. Isn't it odd how their supporters on the left hate to remember that?

Anonymous said...

state and local and federal police will keep enforcing illegal laws and not get prosecuted for it. they will keep hiring cops who dont know any better, unless we remove more of the tendency to give them qualified immunity.

Kee Bird said...

The ACLU blabbers all about FREE SPEECH but oppose FREEDOM OF RELEGION

Anonymous said...

I saw this story on the Trib or Des News and immediately thought of this site.
Any time you see the words 'free speech zone' in reference to a public place you know the constitution is being trampled on.
For all those LDS who believe it upholding the constitution = here's your chance. Tell Brigham City to rethink their illegal ordinance.

Anonymous said...

so are the numerous college free speech zones going to be gone too?

Anonymous said...

Attention libs, We already have a "free-speech zone," it's called the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:47, even a broken clock is right twice a day!

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:39, sorry that word is not a palindrome.

The word palindrome is from the Greek palíndromos, meaning running back again (palín = AGAIN + drom-, drameîn = RUN). A palindrome is a word or phrase which reads the same in both directions.

Some examples are:
RACECAR, DEED, LEVEL, PIP, ROTOR, CIVIC, POP, MADAM, NUN RADAR TOOT HANNAH (STANLEY YELNATS).

The longest single English word in common usage which is a palindrome is REDIVIDER, although the contrived chemical term DETARTRATED is two letters longer.

A heteronym that is spelt the same as another word both forward and backwards.

Your word is: Dam mi timmad