Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
PO BOX 27217, Washington, DC 20038 USA
202-462-0757-- (voice) | 202-265-5389 -- (fax)
prop1@prop1.org -- (e-mail) | http://prop1.org -- (Web)
FAXED AND E-MAILED
November 7, 1996
Dear President and Mrs. Clinton,
Congratulations on your re-election! Unfortunately, some
weird things have been happening here outside your White House
while you've been campaigning. I think it's important that you
know that the First Amendment is being whittled away to little
more than a whisper.
For example, the Park Police arrested my husband, Thomas,
the founder of our 15-year-old antinuclear vigil in Lafayette
Park, in front of dozens of shocked tourists, the day before the
election. The reason: The officer told a TV news crew they
couldn't interview Thomas in the park without a permit!!! This is
clearly unconstitutional, and selective enforcement. There had
been dozens of TV news crews on election eve, doing interviews of
dozens of people. None were warned except the one interviewing
Thomas. After Thomas advised the officer he was incorrect, the
officer told Thomas "If you do anything wrong, I'll arrest you,"
then told him to leave the park!
The officer, who was young and probably bored (there are
so many police hovering all the time, and so little for them to
do!), perhaps was improperly trained, and hadn't been taught that
police officers are supposed to leave their egos and prejudices
at home.
Other young officers are also stretching themselves.
Almost daily some non-threatening demonstrator has been searched
or interrogated, intimidated and chased away for making a speech
or playing a musical instrument, or merely wearing a Santa Claus
suit; it seems as soon as they've attracted official attention,
they have to leave. This is blatant police misconduct in
America's traditional First Amendment park, which the courts have
found to be a "quintessential public forum" protected by the
Constitution. Firm precedent allows loud and boisterous or
otherwise creative free speech.
It would really be too bad if our fellow baby-boomer
president,
anti-war demonstrator in his youth, let the police and
regulations writers nickle-and-dime the First Amendment to death
in Lafayette (Peace) Park.
I sure would like to know that you received this note, and
will
help us civilize the police.
Your friend,
Ellen Thomas
1997 Inaugural | Park Closures | Pennsylvania Ave. Closure
Peace Park | Proposition One
Legal Overview | Regulations