November 24, 2009 - See the following editorial and action item--distribute freely.
Cincinnati City Council meets tomorrow, Wednesday, November 25th, 2pm, in City Council Chambers, 801 Plum Street, Cincinnati. The meeting is open to the public, with citizen opinion heard beforehand by those who register to speak.
NOTE that the agenda for Wednesday's meeting has yet to be released.
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Cincinnati City Council to Restrict Free Speech
by Paula Westwood, Executive Director
Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati
Wednesday evening, November 18th, Cincinnati City Council voted under the radar on a new ordinance that amends several municipal codes addressing signage in Cincinnati. The ordinance had quickly passed the Economic Development Committee the night before, rushing it to full council where it failed this first vote, but is expected to pass Wednesday the 25th, if it remains on the agenda.
What the public does not know is that past discussions of signage in the Economic Development Committee included much time and testimony regarding those who exercise their free speech rights with signs on social concerns. This applies, for example, to labor, war, environmental, and Tea Party demonstrations.
But in the committee hearings, those demonstrating against abortion of babies in front of Planned Parenthood on Auburn Avenue were specifically targeted. The goal was clear to decrease these demonstrators' visibility and weaken their message.
Now we have a 54-page ordinance, which on the surface focuses only on vendors. Thus with all this text, and despite past committee discussion, free speech signage is not clearly identified and addressed.
If this sign ordinance is supposed to also cover demonstrators, the wording is too vague and too dependent on subjective, personal interpretation.
One council member is even said to have quipped, "One vote, one sign," in reference to demonstrators--a dictatorial and illogical dismissal, since one's vote and convictions are often the end result of unrestricted debate and opinion freely expressed in many ways, including via signs.
The absence of clear guidelines for social justice demonstrators in this proposed sign ordinance could result in haphazard suppression of free speech rights due to disagreement, stereotyping, or bigotry.
Council members Chris Monzel, Leslie Ghiz, and Cecil Thomas recognize the importance of clear free speech guidelines. The rest of City Council would do well to recall the simple but precious American value: We may not agree with all opinions, but we respect the right to freely express them.
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ACTION: Contact Mayor Mark Mallory and Cincinnati City Council members and request that they do not vote on the city sign ordinance until clear, written guidelines for social justice demonstrators are included, to ensure equal and just free speech for all.
Contact Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory
Contact City Council Members
