Day of Heckling on Plaza Thrusts Issues to Forefront The scene earlier today on the Main Street plaza included street preachers carrying placards and screaming their beliefs, sometimes through bullhorns.
December 17, 2002 KSL News Specialist Carole Mikita reporting Salt Lake City Council chambers are expected to be packed tonight for the public hearing on the Main Street plaza controversy. The issue of free speech came to a boiling point on the Main Street Plaza today... when protestors heckled wedding parties. News Specialist Carole Mikita has that story as well as reaction from Mayor Anderson. Deanie and Bruce... today's encounter on the plaza caused the mayor to rethink his own time, place and manner restrictions which he proposed as a solution to this problem... it now appears that even he believes some have pushed the idea of free speech too far. They call themselves Bible believers... with giant placards in hand and shouting sometimes through bullhorns....they drew plenty of attention from passersby and wedding parties. "IF YOU TRY TO DO ANYTHING TO INFRINGE ON A PERSON'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS... AND MY ATTORNEYS DON'T ONLY LIKE TO GO AFTER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY LIKE TO GO AFTER YOUR PENSIONS..." A Salt Lake City police officer, tried to get them to move just 20 feet down the walkway, so that brides and grooms could take pictures with the temple behind them. They refused to leave... "COMMON DECENCY, YOU DON'T HAVE IT... I'M NOT MOVIN... THAT'S RIGHT... I'M NOT MOVIN..." Anne Burt/ Mother of the Bride"I'M NOT ANGRY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO GO WITH THE FLOW... BUT IT'S TOO BAD, IT'S TOO BAD... I'M SURE THEY ALL HAVE DAUGHTERS AND SOMEDAY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR PICTURES TAKEN, TOO BUT, YOU KNOW, LIFE GOES ON..." "AND SAINTS AND SANTS AND ANGELS SING..." Then a Latter-day Saint seminary choir in the downtown area to perform, added their voices to counter the screams of the street preachers... Tonight Mayor Anderson said he received a letter from the ACLU saying protestors must be allowed along the full length of the easement... he saw what happened this morning and changed his mind about time, place and manner restrictions. Rocky Anderson/ Salt Lake City Mayor "THERE WERE SOME VERY OBNOXIOUS, LOUD PEOPLE YELLING OBSCENITIES APPARENTLY... DISRUPTING A WEDDING PARTY... THAT IS SO COUNTER TO ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY INTENDED ON THIS PLAZA AND IF IT TAKES THAT TO MAKE THESE TIME, PLACE AND MANNER RESTRICTIONS WORK... THEN WE OUGHT TO JUST TAKE THE WHOLE PROPOSAL OFF THE TABLE AND LOOK AT SOMETHING ELSE..." The mayor is now supporting the proposal that he made yesterday with the Alliance for Unity. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
