From Drake: Free Speech a Criminal Offense? On March 3, the Port Townsend City Council passed an ordinance reining in impromptu free speech displays set up along city sidewalks. While the council proclaimed this was all in the interests of public safety, in reality the ordinance targets one person and there is no evidence of a genuine safety concern. He calls himself Arhata Osho; his legal name is Erik Olson. For the past several years, he has erected whiteboards on downtown streets, lately in front of City Hall at the edge of Pope Marine Park and near the Salish Sea Circle public art sculpture. He calls it a free speech display and the whiteboards contain lots of political opinions. Since the ordinance became law, Osho has continued to set up his display in protest and the police have begun issuing citations. As for Osho, he says intends to fight the city’s attempt to silence him. The free speech advocate has fought these same battles in other places, including Venice Beach, Calif. This isnt about space. Its about [the city] asserting their political correctness,” said Osho. The ordinance limits free speech that occupies public space to an area 4 feet wide, by 6 feet long, by 5 feet high. The law also places a 20-foot buffer around public art, such as the Salish Sea Circle, supposedly to prevent displays from restricting views and public access. A second ordinance requires all free speech displays planned for city parks to apply for a permit, regardless the size. To say that this city law has reached the extremes of ridiculousness is an understatement. Not only has the city limited the size of Osho’s displays, it has targeted the exact location where he sets up, on public land across from City Hall. The city’s harassment of this one person is inexcusable, and its compulsion to rid our city streets of things it deems objectionable makes City Hall look petty and demeaning. What will be targeted next? Pre-election sign-wavers at the Kearney Street intersection? The weekly Women in Black pro-peace vigil at the Adams Street park? The insistence on enforcement and prosecution is a misuse of government authority and a waste of public resources. The law should be repealed, or, at the very least, should not be enforced unless a real problem with public access or safety exists. Arhata
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:52:44 +0000
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