"Colorado Springs is now discussing the possibility of setting up 'free speech zones' for those who want to exercise their First Amendment rights. Put them somewhere where no one will see them, seems to be the prevailing idea. This stems from opposition to Occupy Wall Street demonstrators across the country and at Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs.
The act of civil disobedience is a time-honored tool for those without personal power, buckets of money, or positions of authority to seek justice. Acts of civil disobedience were how citizens drew attention to their cries for freedom from the oppressive British rule in 1773-74, to the end of slavery, equal rights for women, civil rights, gay rights and opposition to the Vietnam war.
In the hierarchy of rights, the First Amendment is sacred, far and above the minutiae of municipal rules and regulations. Much turmoil and conflict, physical harm, expenditure of funds, and division of citizens could have been spared if authorities had honored this American exercise of rights. Police would only have been summoned if there was an imminent threat to life or property.
During the summer of 2010, when tea parties had marches and rallies---some wearing sidearms or carrying automatic rifles---They were not harassed by armored riot squads, threatened with arrest, or attacked with chemical weapons, billy clubs and rubber bullets.
In the case of Occupy Wall Streeters, there is the suspicion that excessive force has been used in defense of a particular partisan view of the content of the protest.
Instead of finding fault with the demonstrators or media, we should try and listening to the merits of their cause. In Colorado Springs, we start down a very slippery slope if we start trying to 'legislate' where we can speak freely or peacefully assemble."
A concerned citizen of Manitou Springs, Colorado
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