Who created free-speech zone at Bayfront?
December 12, 2012 at 6:00 pm in Duluth News Tribune
Duluth City Council members Garry Krause and Jim Stauber want to know who decided on the creation of a “First Amendment Zone” at Bayfront Festival Park and why the council wasn’t told about it until news rose of another complaint from preachers at the Bentleyville Festival of Lights event last month.
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Who ever invented the concept of a 1st amendment zone needs to be reeducated. Every square inch of American territory is a 1st amendment zone.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Well, if memory serves….Duluth last experienced the setting up of ‘free speech zones” when GW Bush visited.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Yep that`s true. SHsssss….better keep THAT a secret!
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Do sex offenders have rights to preach too David?
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You can read all about the history of Free Speech Zones here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_speech_zone
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free speech ends when what someone says is illegal…i.e. yelling fire in a crowded theatre when there is none. Anything that is threatening or dangerous is not covered along with libel and slander. So to reiterate free speech is protected everywhere yes but not everything is covered under free speech.
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Really? Is that right? Huh……
Seems it didn`t count when the GOP had their convention in St.Paul. The government set up a “free speech” zone, and not only confined them there, but even had armed military, police, and roped off areas to make sure those wanting to have their “free speech”…did it where they were told they could…and out of camera and ear shot of those they wanted to have “free speech” about!
Who you trying to kid here?
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“Every square inch of American territory” … except all of those square inches that are privately owned.
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And to those who say we should slash government control in favor of private control, you’re really just switching from one power structure to another. Both the government and private entities make rules, give orders, and command a monopoly of power over those they control. If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s a duck.
In short, every company is its own government. So the laws of the federal government only apply within its jurisdiction.
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Barry, Katy, Vune, etal, Who will run to your defense when it’s YOUR free speech that is infringed if you can’t or won’t support another’s?
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I think you misunderstood my posts. The only thing I mentioned at all was the history of the creation of Free Speech Zones in Duluth.
I actually have no problem with the preachers, as long as they don’t harrass people. The fact that one of them is a registered sex offender does creep me out a bit though.
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I totally agree with Dave! Our troops have fought to preserve freedoms like our 1st ammendment. These “first ammendment/free speech zones” is nothing but “new world order” tyranny! Move to China if you want “free speech zones”!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I think those same sentiments were uttered by people being herded into corrals made of construction fencing and labled ‘free speech zones’ down by the DECC in 2004.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I would suggest you wake up and get your head out of the sand.
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I’m not against the preachers…just the “Fear God” part. But with that being said I would rather have too much free speach than not enough. It’s a good problem to have! I just hope that Bentleyville doesn’t become a soap box for every group pushing a view. Let the kids enjoy the lights in peace.
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I completely agree that the first amendment rights be protected. The preachers honestly don’t bother me because I don’t HAVE to go talk to them. It’s that simple. However, do these councilors have to make a bigger deal out of this then it already is? Hasn’t the situation resolved itself already? Isn’t there something better they can do with their time and publicly funded paycheck that will really benefit the city? I just feel like someone is standing on a soap box for the sake of attention, not the 1st amendment. Note, I said it was my “feeling” recognizing I am an outsider to their thoughts and rationale so don’t jump all over me for exercising my first amendment rights….that would make one a hypocrite.
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Tell THAT to those that were confined to “free speech” area durring the GOP conventin in St. Paul, or when Bush was up here. Wake up…It`s been done on a regular bases AND on public streets and property.
Wake up.
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Moron’s never fail to amuse. Blame Bush, ROFL!
FWIW: Dear Moron’s, when a political rally is held, by ANY party, they “lease/rent/schedule(use what term you will” the venue so they have standing to control admission/exclusion to the event.
If you can’t follow something as simple as this there’s either no help/hope for you, or you’ve become so biased/jaded to a topic/issue that reason has been abandoned.
Now, on to the actual topic of this article (Bentlyville display/preachers/city property that is deemed public).
The only simple way Mr. Bently could restrict the preachers is to have some form of admission to the display (either collecting money for tickets, or distributing tickets).
The city is more limited and thus the “outrage” about the signs.
I suspect this issue will resolve with either the moving of the display next year, or some form of “admission/ticket”.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Would I be allowed to wear a T-shirt with something derogatory about Obama on it to a DFL convention? Somehow I doubt it.
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Wasn’t there some free speech zones set up in 2008 in St. Paul? People still were arrested though.
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You`re not supposed to bring that up…it was a Republican protection racket. It`s a whole nother thing! SHsssssss
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I damneth them to hell for their wickedthness where they will be torturedth by Lucifer for an eternity. (No, I’m not talking about the mayor and council members, of course, but those religious zealots who are harassing people at a family event).
By the way, I agree with David that all of the US is a “Free Speech Zone”.
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Perhaps after todays article, it should be renamed a “registered sex offender zone”. More people would appreciate that information than the “preaching” that is going on now.
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“registered sex offender”. Is that a sex offender who can vote?
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I guess that preacher needs to “FEAR GOD”. I just hope the light show comes back next year!
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I just want to know one thing. Why does the city counsel stick thier nose in everything? If I put a sign, “walk your dog here” will they complain about that too?
I also wish the city or Bentley charges, say one dollar so they can ban whoever they wish. The money would just go back to the people anyway in warm drinks, cookies, popcorn, something. The lights Bentley displays are for enjoyment, not to have people bothering others when people bring children for enjoyment. Mr. Bentley does this out of the goodness of his heart as well as all the volunteers. And since local motels and hotels use the display for advertisement and to attrach guest, maybe they should share in the cost of hiring someone for security during the day so displays don’t get destroyed or stolen. They make a profit, give some back and keep the show for years to come. the community should help if they want to have Bentley return next year.
Thank You Mr. bentley for all you have done.
People tend to ruin things…………..
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Gary Krause’s favorite pastime is listening to Gary Krause talking.
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You mean the street preacher that was convicted of a sexual assult on a 13 year old girl in Cass county when he was a teacher? The same one that is a Minnesota registered sex offender? HE MADE A COMPLAINT????? LOL….. No wonder he wears a sign that says “fear god”!!!!!
The clown should…….
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He must not have dealt with a conservative judge and prosecutor. Liberal justice at its finest, eh?
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I think somebody should take on that Judge who ruled that Duluth could not enforce a “free speech” zone, and contain those two street preachers who keep disrupting the crowds. My reasoning is based on the fact, that our federal government has a number of times created a “free speech” zone and enforced it. In Duluth, when president Bush visited, a free speech zone was inforced, and THAT is where people had to be in order to voice their opinions in public. Also, when the GOP convention was in St.Paul, all people with vocal opinions no matter what side they were on, were corraled into a free speech zone….AND….it was inforced by ARMED ferderal agents. I see NO REASON that this display can not have the same rules apply on public property, if our own government is allowed to do it themselves. It`s time to take on that judge, and have him OVER RULED! Come on Mayor……it`s time now to get this done, so next year people are NOT bombarded with nonsense from those two [or any others], while trying to disrupt a good time at a public park.
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