On February 8, the US Court of Appeals, DC circuit, held a hearing in Initiative & Referendum Institute v US Postal Service. The issue is whether the First Amendment protects petitioning on post office sidewalks. All 3 judges were very interested in the case, and the argument was unusually spirited. A decision is likely in a few months. A more detailed account will be in the March 1 B.A.N.
This reminds me of a visit I had a few years ago with a supporter of Lyndon LaRouche. She had a table set up on the sidewalk near the entrance to the post office, and it was loaded with literature. She didn’t push for a financial contribution, but she certainly would’ve accepted one.
In 1979, I encountered 2 ladies who had a card table set up near a shopping-mall entrance in KY; they were registering voters. Learning that they were Republicans, I asked what they did if someone registered as a Democrat.
“Oh, we don’t turn those in!”
One of the great paradoxes of American politics is how courts sometimes rule petitioners are to be allowed on private property, such as shopping centers, but petitioners are constantly chased off public property, including post offices, and even threatened with arrest.
Oh, I know the First Amendment, the last part of which is the right to petition, is just as ignored as everything except the Third Amendment, but it does get a lot of lip service.
This is to address, to comment on anyone who the 1st amendment grants each and every citizen the right to petition… Have you read it?
Amendment I states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
It says nothing to allow us to petition for ballot access that is not what the framers of the constitution meant… They knew it was our right to run for office… Not to go to the government and BEG for us to be placed on the ballot… I’ve been arrested for petitioning several times in this so called free country. I also have been threaten on post office property of an arrest many times from Maine to Hawaii. Been written about in papers, on talks show and including PBS, Criminal trespassing on federal land can carry a felony charge that is what they would charge us with… That is one of the reasons I’ve opt not to get arrested on Post Office property… If you don’t know “We the People†own the post office, period… By reading our constitution one can learn to appreciate the framers thoughts. To petition the “government for a redress of grievance†is not the same as ballot access. I’m looking for any comment…
Hi, I have been threatened with arrest more times than I can count on & off postal property. Mainly in Florida. I am fed up after 12 years of this & would like to do something to change the laws any thoughts on this ?