ACLU: Occupy MN has right to unrestricted use of public property — and free electricity, too

Hot Air ^ | November 22,2011 | ED MORRISSEY

[Hojczyk]

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota sued Hennepin County on Monday on behalf of OccupyMPLS, the protest group camping out on the Government Center Plaza in downtown Minneapolis in defiance of county rules.

The ACLU suit contends that those rules, which forbid tents and electricity, and “certain unwritten procedures enforced by the county” violate the demonstrators’ free speech rights. …

The suit asks that new rules restricting the use of chalk, electricity and tents be declared unconstitutional. The plaintiffs are also seeking an injunction against the rules, and they want the county to provide electricity for the protesters. It also asks that officials stop giving trespass notices to protesters who build temporary shelters or use chalk to express their views.

The county has said the plaza is not designed for long-term occupation and that the restrictions adopted earlier this month are needed because of health and safety concerns and increased security costs.

[ken21]

unbelievable.

look forward to a permanent communist uprising in the u.s.

george w bush hid from the media because of code pink,

but the new gop president will face much worse.

[King_Corey]

They should fire hose the place after the temperature hits 10 Degrees F. That should clear it out.

[Da Coyote]

I consider the ACLU to be the enemy.

And will treat it accordingly come CW-II.

[Califreak]

By now, they have to know what kind of evil communism brings about, so I can only assume that they are inherently evil to begin with...

[WOBBLY BOB]

won’t be long before RT Rybak wants to one-up the mayor of L.A. and rent them city hall for a dollar.

[MrB]

“I consider the ACLU to be the enemy.”

As well you should.

They were founded by communists, and have since their founding simply been another communist front group.

[mountn man]

So what do you think the chances are that the ACLU would come to my aid if I demanded the use of unrestricted free use of public space and free electricity, to put up a nativity scene?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

I want to FREELY excercise my religion, and I want FREE electricity to do it.

[Jack Hydrazine]

What if they occupied the places of residence of the ACLU employees including the lawyers? I bet that’s Constitutional, too!

[JPG]

I am occupying my house so I want free electricity, too.

[NRA1995]

Does the ACLU have the same sentiments about the Tea Party? I bet not.

[JamesA]

I don’t recon it will take much more for the masses to rise up and put the ACLU out of business.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

10 degrees in Mpls ?
When does that happen ?

[mountn man]

Now I know that the left would contend, that by the government doing what I suggested, that the government would then be establishing a religion.

So using the very same logic, if the government allows the occupiers free everything, in essence they are establishing the occupiers view point.

In essence making it the law of the land.

Now of course the argument would be that the government WOULD NOT be establishing it as law, just upholding their free excercise of speech.

Which brings us back to nativity scenes.

If in allowing free unobstructed use of government land and utilies is not an establishment of government on speech, but an upholding of freedom of excercise, then neither could it be an establishment of religion, but also a freedom of excercise.

[alloysteel]

“Rights” are once again confused with “wants” and “needs”.

You have a right to make a contract with the owners of these commodities, which you may either want or need.

If you WANT something, that is altogether different from the situation where you may NEED something. Again, there is some confusion about these two terms. You may want to just take that item so easily available, with no intent or ability to give something in return, but then you would also need a good swift boot in the gluteus maximus to restore your manners.

[cuban leaf]

—...rules, which forbid tents and electricity, and “certain unwritten procedures enforced by the county” violate the demonstrators’ free speech rights.—

I think the lack of a free PA also violates their free speech rights. The city should cough it up pronto.

Or they could say that they have the right to say anything they want, as the constitution says, but if they are cold they have to wear a coat, and if they want to put up a tent, they’ll have to do it elsewhere, where it is permitted.

[cuban leaf]

—They should fire hose the place after the temperature hits 10 Degrees F. That should clear it out.—
Aim it up about 60 degrees to give them a perpetual rain.

[MNGal]

“Does the ACLU have the same sentiments about the Tea Party? I bet not.”

That’s kind of what I’ve been wondering since I heard about the LA Occupy being rented office space for $1. If the mayor isn’t willing to do the same for any other group (or, the Tea Party), then isn’t that to be considered discrimination of some sort?

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>They should fire hose the place after the temperature hits 10 Degrees F. That should clear it out.

That would encase them in ice until spring... all in all, not a bad idea.

[Mortrey]

Everyone remember to send the ACLU a nice CHRISTMAS card this year:

ACLU
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
New York, NY 10004