The Government Is Trying To Silence These Patriotic Protesters, But They Just Hit Back HARD According to a lawsuit filed by the Thomas More Law Center, the growing effort to prohibit criticism of Barack Obama has now extended to Dallas, Texas. The organization issued a press release this week alleging that protesters involved with the ‘Overpasses for America’ program are being targeted by a city ordinance passed earlier this year that imposes up to $500 fines for what it feels is a form of free expression. The ordinance applies specifically to activities conducted from pedestrian overpasses, which is precisely the setting of the anti-Obama protests. “This is another example of a city silencing the message of a certain viewpoint in a traditional public forum without legal justification,” Erin Mersino, the center’s senior trial counsel said. Along with TMLC attorneys, Houston lawyer Jerad Najvar filed a lawsuit claiming the ordinance is unconstitutional. “Here,” Mersino said, “there is no history that Plaintiffs’ speech imposed any public safety threat. Such an invalid restriction on free speech curtails all of our free speech freedoms and wrongfully imperils one of our inalienable rights as Americans.” The loosely affiliated grassroots protesters joined in communities across the U.S. to bring attention to a number of issues, including border security and calls to impeach Obama. According to the TMLC, at least 75 such events were held in Dallas prior to the prohibitive ordinance. Dallas is just one of a number of cities and towns to take what some feel is retributive action against the demonstrators. While city council members approved the ordinance under the guise of public safety, the Dallas Police Department could not cite any example of the protesters causing any hazardous situations. TMLC President Richard Thompson said he feels the action taken by Dallas leaders gives Americans even more reason to question authority. “The viewpoints of a majority of Americans on crucial public issues are no longer expressed by their elected representatives,” he said. “The concerns of a majority of Americans seem to have little impact on the decisions made by politicians who are more concerned with appeasing lobbyists, special interest groups, and wealthy donors.” He concluded that, as a result, it is imperative for his organization and others to stand up against such assaults on specific groups of Americans. “That’s why it’s so important to defend the free speech rights of grassroots organizations like Overpasses for America,” he said, “whose members feel it’s their patriotic duty to stand for hours on these overpasses to get their message out and mobilize their fellow citizens.” Read more at westernjournalism/dallas-faces-lawsuit-censoring-anti-obama-protesters/#RbrE9X5ksoWcZIoi.99
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 20:52:07 +0000
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