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January 28, 2008 Street newspaper vendors have First Amendment rights
A recent Seattle Times article--“Some cities call it panhandling, but Real Change calls it working”--brings to light more evidence of a profoundly disturbing development: the criminalization of free speech. Real Change is a local newspaper sold by low-income vendors.
that cities must recognize Under the guise of suppressing “aggressive panhandling,” the city of Tacoma has outlawed all solicitation after dark and any solicitation during daylight within 15 feet of many public places including bus stops, automated teller machines, pay phones, car washes, gas pumps, and the entrance of any building (except with permission of the owner or occupant). This ordinance is so broad and vague that it directly infringes on the exercise of basic First Amendment rights. Police have and will use it to unreasonably limit the time and place that street vendors can sell alternative newspapers like the homeless community's Real Change or left press like the Freedom Socialist. This government censorship unlawfully interferes with “political speech” which courts have given the highest level of constitutional protection. Tacoma and other cities with similar unconstitutional ordinances should repeal them immediately and not wait for the courts to strike them down--at considerable taxpayer expense. The streets and sidewalks of our cities belong to all the people, not just the business owners and luxury condo dwellers who prevail on city officials and police to keep their block clear of homeless people, radicals, unionists and other advocates for poor and working people. Issued by: Freedom Socialist Party, 5018 Rainier Ave S., Seattle, WA 98118 206-722-2453 * www.socialism.com * FSPseattle@mindspring.com |
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