Freedom of speech and assembly in Boston
Aug 01, 2008 13:32
Today, the
Boston Globe reports that Mayor Menino has
had enough of street art and audience applause on
Faneuil Hall's public plaza. All the noise, the
music and merriment five floors down and across
the street, was too much for him, and he's had his
control squads sweep the plaza and pen the artists
into a tiny corner, where they must take turns
doing their acts. (I'm not sure if the tourists
must be in a pen, too.)
Oddly, this is the kind of activity the Mayor and the BRA are constantly trying to foster. The highest and best use of any site is to "revitalize" the city and produce "vibrant" public spaces that are "destinations." Well, it took a while, but the genuine marketplace and meeting ground of Fan Hall is now nothing but a tourist destination. Not good enough, apparently. It has to be quiet, too. Orderly.
Imagine what would happen if a workers' strike, or a political demonstration, was attempted at Fan Hall, the Cradle of Liberty, today. These tend to be noisy and disorderly.
I inquired once about any requirements for holding a sidewalk sign-carrying protest at a Mayoral speech. I was told by a City Hall official that permits for "free" speech and assembly must be given, after applications are duly filed in advance, by employees that work for the Mayor -- and, in this political world of ours, they would be risking their jobs to permit gatherings that criticize him.
Meanwhile, we're seeing huge swaths of City Hall Plaza fenced off for admission-charging commercial events, draping of City Hall and other public buildings with advertising, ad banners on light poles along our streets, ubiquitous street-furniture billboards (contracted to Mayoral friends), and commercially sponsored events occupying areas of the Boston Common. Post Office Square, City land leased to a private development group, officially prohibits free speech and assembly -- not only within their park area, but on the surrounding City sidewalks, and, during scheduled park events, within a 100-foot radius of the park boundaries.
What is free speech in the cradle of liberty? Is it only available for corporations, or can citizens have some too, please?
Atop the Boston Public Library (the first in America) are engraved these words: THE COMMONWEALTH REQUIRES THE EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE AS THE SAFEGUARD OF ORDER AND LIBERTY. Order and Liberty: the two linchpins of democratic society. We'd better watch that balance.
Oddly, this is the kind of activity the Mayor and the BRA are constantly trying to foster. The highest and best use of any site is to "revitalize" the city and produce "vibrant" public spaces that are "destinations." Well, it took a while, but the genuine marketplace and meeting ground of Fan Hall is now nothing but a tourist destination. Not good enough, apparently. It has to be quiet, too. Orderly.
Imagine what would happen if a workers' strike, or a political demonstration, was attempted at Fan Hall, the Cradle of Liberty, today. These tend to be noisy and disorderly.
I inquired once about any requirements for holding a sidewalk sign-carrying protest at a Mayoral speech. I was told by a City Hall official that permits for "free" speech and assembly must be given, after applications are duly filed in advance, by employees that work for the Mayor -- and, in this political world of ours, they would be risking their jobs to permit gatherings that criticize him.
Meanwhile, we're seeing huge swaths of City Hall Plaza fenced off for admission-charging commercial events, draping of City Hall and other public buildings with advertising, ad banners on light poles along our streets, ubiquitous street-furniture billboards (contracted to Mayoral friends), and commercially sponsored events occupying areas of the Boston Common. Post Office Square, City land leased to a private development group, officially prohibits free speech and assembly -- not only within their park area, but on the surrounding City sidewalks, and, during scheduled park events, within a 100-foot radius of the park boundaries.
What is free speech in the cradle of liberty? Is it only available for corporations, or can citizens have some too, please?
Atop the Boston Public Library (the first in America) are engraved these words: THE COMMONWEALTH REQUIRES THE EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE AS THE SAFEGUARD OF ORDER AND LIBERTY. Order and Liberty: the two linchpins of democratic society. We'd better watch that balance.
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