On Aug 3, 2005, at 10:46 AM, Sheldon Mains wrote:
OK, that was a little strong.
But I had a little run in with a park manager at a National Night
Out event
in a park who tired to tell me I had to "stand in one place and do not
approach anyone". I was campaigning for myself and Laura Wittstock for
Library Board and handing out our literature. I ignored her
statement and
she came back with a letter from Jon Gurban dated June 23 (it is
the letter
rescinding the permit requirement for free speech).
Was the Park Manager any sort of public official? Were they actually
a police officer? Personally, I would take this issue to someone who
can investigate this. I don't know who you would take this to
(depending on who it was) but how else are you going to get the word
out on your campaign? You have to expect that a public event in
August is going to attract campaign canvassers, and I would
personally welcome it if I was hosting an event.
What happened in the end -- did you end up leaving? I doubt they
could have legally done anything about your presence or literature.
I was also canvassing a few NNO events, but had no problems. In
fact, I got a thumbs-up from one police officer, and one even stopped
me and thanked me for participating in the democratic process.
Good luck,
Tony Brant
Steven's Square, Minneapolis
612-590-0215
The actual wording of the letter:
"I am also asking that any individual or small group who are in the
Park
distributing literature to use common sense! By that I mean please
do not
block access or egress to Park Buildings or block or impede traffic on
parkways or paths. Do not litter or bother parents and guardians
who may
have children in wading pools or people playing on athletic fields."
"Most importantly, the peaceful enjoyment and solitude of park
patrons must
be respected."
Since I was not breaking up a basketball game, blocking a park
building or
standing in the middle of a parkway or bothering parents or guardians
watching their children, I kept campaigning. How she interpreted
the letter
as "you have to stand in one place and don't approach anyone" is
beyond me.
sheldon
...............................
Sheldon Mains
DFL and Labor Endorsed Candidate for Minneapolis Library Board of
Trustees
http://www.MainsForLibrary.org
[EMAIL PROTECTED], 612/618-7149
Mains for Library Committee, 2718 24th St. E., Mpls 55406
"It is incredibly important to this country that we have people who
run
libraries that actually believe in reading books instead of burning
them."
Howard Dean
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