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United States News Title: Wal-Mart opponents stifled Cite free-speech rights after Littleton tells them to cover shirts, buttons Littleton - A fight over a new Wal-Mart is turning into a battle over free speech after opponents were told to put down their signs and take off their buttons and T-shirts in city hall last week. "We felt like we were being railroaded," said Robert Davis, 65, who was forced to turn his "Littleton Against Wal-Mart" shirt inside out. "This flies in the face of the First Amendment." A half-dozen or more police officers told numerous opponents to remove or cover their regalia or leave, according to witnesses. "We weren't going to do anything," said Davis, who is now working with Denver civil rights lawyer David Lane on a possible lawsuit. "We all just thought wearing them would be a silent protest, in case we didn't get to speak." Brad Bailey, Littleton's assistant city attorney, said the city manager's office imposed the rule because police expected a large, rowdy crowd of opponents and hoped to keep them from intimidating those who might not agree with them. "If they want to wear their T-shirts on the public sidewalk outside the building, off the property, they may do so," he said. "This is in no way an attempt to deny them their free speech, but to manage where they practice it for public safety." Littleton imposed a standing administrative rule, which also allows officials to restrict such things as glass bottles at public events for safety reasons. The Wal-Mart crowd, however, is the first to be restricted in Littleton City Center, Bailey said. A violation of the rule is a misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail. The city modeled its demonstration guidelines after one that restricts T-shirts and signs in the U.S. Supreme Court chambers. Similarly, Iraq war protester Cindy Sheehan was removed from the U.S. House gallery during the State of the Union address earlier this year for wearing a T-shirt with an anti-war slogan. The wife of a Republican congressman was also removed, for wearing a "Support the Troops" shirt. "I'm very confident (Littleton) is in no liability for a constitutional challenge," Bailey said. Timothy Lee, a lawyer and director of legal and public affairs for the Center for Individual Freedom, a Washington, D.C., nonpartisan think tank on constitutional issues, wasn't as sure. "It's definitely a First Amendment issue, but is it a First Amendment violation?" he said, referring to the complexities within the law. "That's a much tougher question." He noted in the Sheehan case, "They were within their rights to remove her, but they later apologized." Messages on T-shirts and signs at public buildings and events have been fodder for many federal court fights with mixed outcomes. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering the case of an Alaska teenager who unfurled a banner that stated "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" as the Olympic Torch passed by in 2002. He was off school property but was suspended for 10 days. In Littleton, Wal-Mart opponents say a proposed Supercenter on South Santa Fe Boulevard will visually intrude on neighboring South Platte Park, as well as disturb their peace with 24-hour traffic and lights. The zoning meeting regarding the project is scheduled to continue Monday at 7 p.m. at Littleton City Center. Officials ended the meeting last week after four hours with dozens of opponents still waiting to speak. "I would encourage every one of those people to wear a T-shirt with a message on it," Lane said Saturday.
Poster Comment: I wish this was going on around me. I'd go there with a big button. If the government thug assholes told me to take it off. I'd leave it on. Sue their asses. Government suck asses sucking walmarts asshole. This shit has to stop.
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"If I thought this war was to abolish slavery, I would resign my commission, and offer my sword to the other side." --Ulysses S. Grant
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