THOMAS v. REAGAN

USDC Cr. No. 84-3552
Ellen Thomas
Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
Post Office Box 27217
Washington, DC 20038

April 3, 1987

Ms. Patricia Bangert
Solicitor's Office
Department of Interior
18th and E NW
Washington, DC

and

Sandra Alley
OfficePublic Affairs
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, DC

Dear Ladies:

Since April 13, 1984, I have been attempting to maintain a constant, all-weather, round-the-clock expressive presence in Lafayette Park, without living accommodations, sharing responsibility for signs and literature with my husband, William Thomas.

Since February 10, 1987, a petition to ban all nuclear weapons has been circulated 24 hours a day at and near our signs. (See Attachment 1.)

An average of 500 people per week have signed this petition at the peace signs in front of the White House. Most of these people, and many others, take away with them copies of the petition and/or other literature. (See Attachments 2 - __.)

Protecting this literature from the weather is difficult under the very primitive circumstances in which we are forced to work by various regulations. The wind blows it away, and rain and snow damage it.

Replacing literature destroyed by rain, snow, and wind is also difficult.

I have recently been given two small plastic crates which help me keep the literature neatly stacked, which I cover with plastic when it rains and snows.

I hereby ask the DOI/NPS to allow me to retain these two crates and the plastic as essential tools for my demonstration.

Your friend in peace,

Ellen Thomas

Enclosures


[* Additionally, since l966 I have suffered recurrent hemorrhoids. Squatting on hard surfaces exacerbates this problem. Since the NPS banned chairs from demonstrations in Lafayette Park, squatting on hard surfaces has become an occupational requirement during my vigil. This has caused me considerable pain. The crates mentioned above, whose primary function is to protect our literature, also serve as a stool which, cushioned by a small pillow or a blanket, relieves the pain. I beg you to allow me to continue this practice.]


Case Listing --- Proposition One ---- Peace Park