I was also at the farmer's market yesterday and saw the workers. I too am a customer who talked with the workers - (for disclosure's sake I am a long time active DFLer) Their approach was standard street organizing and it was fun to see non-ad based political action going on.
What is interesting is that over the years political activity at the market jas occurred often. I may be wrong but I believe I have seen representative of both mayoral campaigns in the last few campaigns there. Along with other statewide offices. Sadly my last conversation with Paul Wellstone was at the market on the Saturday before the plane went down. I will alway carry a bittersweet memory of Paul shaking hands and litsening to the"customers" as he moved through the crowd. Quoting "Mary C. Zanmiller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > I witnessed the worst of contemporary USA at the Saint Paul Farmers' > Market this morning (July 3, 2004). A Democratic National Committee > (DNC) worker was conversing with two people on the sidewalk along the > southwest corner of the Saint Paul Farmers' Market. As I walked by the > market manager was telling the DNC worker that he could not talk to > people at the Market. I indignantly interfered and said, "He has a > right to speak with people." The Market manager replied, "No, he > doesn't, and customers are complaining." One of the people he was > speaking to said, "I am a customer and I want to talk with him." I > added, "On a public sidewalk he has a right to free speech." The Market > manager replied, "The Market leases the sidewalk as well and he has to > leave." I replied, "The next time I see our Republican mayor speaking > to people at the Market I will find you and you will have to ask him to > leave." > > This is plain wrong. The people of Saint Paul paid for this market. > Hundred of thousands of public dollars was recently invested to upgrade > this space. The people of Saint Paul generously support the market by > buying from the farmers selling their products. So in Saint Paul we > no longer honor the free speech that is guaranteed in the constitution. > Many times I have seen Mayor Randy Kelly and Senator Norman Coleman > shaking hands as they campaign for their next great office. So some > people can campaign and others can't? Who gets to choose? Who sets the > litmus test? > > The Saint Paul Farmers' market is the commons if their ever was one. > How ironic that this happened the day before our observance of the > Declaration of Independence - the birth of democracy, with its' > guarantee of free speech. > > You know it makes me want to sign up to be a DNC volunteer, I think I > will take the Northwest corner and the sun won't be in my eyes. If any > readers know how I can join up; please contact me. > > It is a time-honored tradition for the Saint Paul Farmers' Market to be > a public space. What happened this morning is a "tragedy of the > commons." The Saint Paul Farmers' Market should honor free speech and > never, ever again kick people out that are engaged in our democratic > process. > > Happy 4th of July. > > Peace follows freedom and justice, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Mary C. Zanmiller > West Seventh Neighborhood > Saint Paul, MN USA > > > _____________________________________________ > To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > _____________________________________________ > NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul > > Archive Address: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ > _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
