Title: Innocent Woman Detained by Police & Ticketed — for Reciting Poetry on the Sidewalk Source:
Free Thought Project/Denver7 – The Denver Channel URL Source:http://thefreethoughtproject.com/wo ... -sidewalk/#fy9MBSplhJfYsbOI.99 Published:Jan 17, 2017 Author:Matt Agorist Post Date:2017-01-18 08:49:22 by Deckard Keywords:None Views:3567 Comments:27
Riverside, CA — The state of California has long since waged a war on anyone who dares attempt to make a dollar by performing on the street. While some of these ordinances are in place for public safety, others are outright asinine and are a clear violation of constitutional rights. The latest example of this violation comes out of the city of Palm Springs in which a woman was arrested for reciting impromptu poetry.
Amy Marschak is a published writer from Colorado who performs impromptu poetry in public. For her one-of-a-kind street performances, she dons a Victorian dress and she takes requests from her listeners. For example, a pair of lovers on their first date might ask her to compose a poem on the spot to describe their meeting and their feelings for one another.
She’s been featured on local news stations and has performed across the United States. She sets up no table, does not block any paths, and performs upon request.
On March 13, 2015, Marschak was detained and issued a citation by Palm Springs police officer, Erik Larson. Larson issued this citation because Marschak was performing poetry in a public area.
Larson stated that citizens were “not supposed to” perform on the streets of Palm Springs, and that street performing was “against the law…”
She was given a ticket by Defendant Larson that cited an ordinance prohibiting “sitting or lying” on a sidewalk (which she was not doing), later amended to a citation under the local ordinance that prohibits “obstructing” a public sidewalk (which she also was not doing). Around the same period of time, Plaintiff observed that other street performers were also being persecuted by Defendant Larson and other City of Palm Springs police officers on similarly spurious grounds.
After being issued a note of extortion by police for speaking words on a public sidewalk, Marschak felt violated. So, she retained an attorney and fought the ticket. She later won her case, however, Marschak has since filed a lawsuit because she now fears, rightfully so, that she will be arrested or cited again for reciting poetry on the sidewalk.
According to the lawsuit, Marschak alleges her constitutional rights were violated. She is now seeking to affirm and vindicate the fundamental constitutional rights of street performers to express themselves freely in the public areas of Palm Springs without fear of harassment by local police.
Marschak’s battle is a noble one as more and more street performers are finding themselves in legal trouble for doing nothing other than brightening people’s days as they walk by.
Last month the Free Thought Project reported on the story of a California man who was ticketed for juggling. Reporters with The Jones/Skelton Report, Joff and Alex, out of Santa Cruz, filmed police citing a man for juggling on the sidewalk. When Alex asked the officer if he was really citing the man for this non-offense, the officer confirmed that he was indeed citing the man for juggling — because throwing balls to yourself is banned.
The list of things in the United States to do that are illegal is ever increasing at an absurd rate. From walking across the street to riding a bicycle, ordinances across the nation, enforced through the barrel of a gun, continue to cause undue pain and suffering for otherwise innocent Americans on a daily basis. Now, it seems, that even poetry is not safe.
City of Palm Springs’ Municipal Code Section 12.12.050 (Loitering – Obstructing traffic) reads:
“It is unlawful for any person to stand upon any street, sidewalk, or other public way open for pedestrian travel, or otherwise occupy any portion thereof in such a manner as to annoy or molest any pedestrian thereon, or so as to obstruct or unreasonably interfere with the free passage of pedestrians, motor vehicles, or other modes of travel.”
She was asked to leave the sidewalk. Instead, she argued with the cop about her constitutional rights. So he wrote her a ticket.
What do you mean, "this"? Reciting poetry on the sidewalk?
Nope. Preventing the recitation of poetry on the sidewalk. Very clearly protected speech. Not in a grey zone. The police acted illegally and need to be slapped down all across the nation by the Supreme Court, in a clear opinion that will open the door to a trillion dollars in lawsuits against every single American community that does not teach its police to leave peaceful free speech alone.
Real simple: the Constitution supersedes local ordinances, and free speech supersedes the desire for UNREASONABLE law and order.
The need for permits for parades is reasonable: they block traffic. Shutting down somebody reading poetry is unreasonable, anywhere, anytime. It's obviously unconstitutional to do so, and since we seem to have people who don't get that in local government and law enforcement, big, bad federal judicial power needs to bring a constitutional sledgehammer down on their heads, and start costing them billions in lawsuits, to frighten and intimidate them (local governments and the cops) into ceasing and desisting messing with constitutional rights.
Here's a case where I am for the FULL FEDERALIZATION of the issue. The Right to Free speech is NOT reserved to the states, or the people, it is a clear and unambiguous federal right, and ANY government official that stands in its way should be prepared to write a lot of checks in compensation for his lawbreaking.
Free speech is a federal constitutional right. The states and cities HAVE NO RIGHTS AT ALL to bar it.
Here, they did. They need to have their heads and hands cut off for it, and be made an example of.
You do realize that, as written, the federal Bill of Rights did not apply to the states?
Yep. I also realize that that has not been the case for a long time, and that the First Amendment DOES fully apply to the states now. Current law, as determined by the Supreme Court, is that the First Amendment applies everywhere in America, and state and local law cannot override it.
Time, space and manner restrictions are permitted, but they have to be reasonable.
Preventing a lone individual from peacefully reading poetry on the sidewalk is not remotely reasonable.
"I also realize that that has not been the case for a long time"
The first amendment was applied to the states in 1925.
"Preventing a lone individual from peacefully reading poetry on the sidewalk is not remotely reasonable."
Isn't the intent of reading poetry out loud on the sidewalk to draw an appreciative crowd? And wouldn't the crowd impede sidewalk traffic? Isn't it possible some people would be forced to walk in the street to get around the crowd? Isn't that dangerous?
Or perhaps you think that pedestrians killed or injured in the street is a small price to pay for freedom of speech?
They can recite poetry. Just not where people are forced to hear it. Don't the rest of us have rights, too?
Nope, that's not the deal. They can recite poetry on the sidewalk, and you don't have the right to make them stop.
The police have asserted that they can, but she is taking them to court. And she will most certainly win, because the constitutional law on this is clear.
Isn't the intent of reading poetry out loud on the sidewalk to draw an appreciative crowd? And wouldn't the crowd impede sidewalk traffic? Isn't it possible some people would be forced to walk in the street to get around the crowd? Isn't that dangerous?
Or perhaps you think that pedestrians killed or injured in the street is a small price to pay for freedom of speech?
The cops can assert that to the Supreme Court.
They'll lose.
In a circumstance where that is already happening, to move a thing that has started to assemble is within the rational reach of the police. But to simply ticket and silence somebody speaking on the street, when there is no crowd forming and no actual issue, is a violation of the First Amendment, as will be duly ruled when her case comes before the federal judges.
Nope, that's not the deal. They can recite poetry on the sidewalk, and you don't have the right to make them stop.
The police have asserted that they can, but she is taking them to court. And she will most certainly win, because the constitutional law on this is clear.
Nope. Preventing the recitation of poetry on the sidewalk. Very clearly protected speech. Not in a grey zone.
City of Palm Springs’ Municipal Code Section 12.12.050 (Loitering – Obstructing traffic) reads:
“It is unlawful for any person to stand upon any street, sidewalk, or other public way open for pedestrian travel, or otherwise occupy any portion thereof in such a manner as to annoy or molest any pedestrian thereon, or so as to obstruct or unreasonably interfere with the free passage of pedestrians, motor vehicles, or other modes of travel.”
Obstructing pedestrian traffic. Very clearly a legal municipal code. Whether that is what she did is a question for the jury.
Just as in NYC you cannot operate a hot dog stand on a pedestrian sidewalk without a license.
Speech is not an issue at all. Only certain behavior is at issue. It would not matter if the lady were mute.
She is free to say whatever she wants as long as she does not "stand upon any street, sidewalk, or other public way open for pedestrian travel, or otherwise occupy any portion thereof in such a manner as to annoy or molest any pedestrian thereon, or so as to obstruct or unreasonably interfere with the free passage of pedestrians, motor vehicles, or other modes of travel."
Her recitation of poetry is no more protected than panhandling, if it interferes with a pedestrian right of way.
A restriction prohibiting interference with a public right of way is lawful.
Rodgers and Dilbeck v. Bryant, ARED 4-16-CV-00775, Doc 19 (22 Nov 2016) ORDER
Both Plaintiffs have been charged with violating Arkansas’s anti-begging law, and both say they would continue to beg but for fear of being charged again with violating the law. Under the anti-begging law, a person commits the offense of loitering if she or he “[l]ingers or remains in a public place or on the premises of another for the purpose of begging.
- - - - - - - - - -
V. FACIAL CHALLENGE (OVERBROAD)
A statute that regulates speech based on its content, must be narrowly tailored to promote a compelling government interest.
Banning begging in all places, at all times, by all people, in all ways does not come close to chinning this bar. Arkansas’s anti-begging law infringes on the freedom of speech guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Federal Constitution. Accordingly, as to the facial challenge, Plaintiffs’ Motion for Injunction is GRANTED, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is DENIED with prejudice, and Defendant is permanently enjoined from enforcing Arkansas Code Annotated § 5-71-213(a)(3). This Order does not affect the other subsections of Section 5-71-213.
Both Plaintiffs have been charged with violating Arkansas’s anti-begging law
Beggars should be shot. Feeding the animals causes DEPENDENCY... but in most cases, drug addiction. These pieces of shit beg all day to fund their heroin and cocaine addictions that Decktard thinks is sooooooo cool.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
sn't the intent of reading poetry out loud on the sidewalk to draw an appreciative crowd? And wouldn't the crowd impede sidewalk traffic? Isn't it possible some people would be forced to walk in the street to get around the crowd? Isn't that dangerous?
Only On 2: Panhandlers Caught Driving Rental Car, Traveling Around Town To Solicit Cash
November 15, 2016 11:14 PM
[extract]
Another panhandling couple – a mother and son – were spotted outside a Walmart, only to get into a car that came back registered to Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
“Is that right, really, to be out there asking for money? And you’re driving a rental car? I mean, you’re driving a 2016 new car and you’re out asking for money,” said Goldstein.
Brother, Should You Spare a Dime? How to Handle a Panhandler
Jacob Davidson Updated: Apr 10, 2015 4:47 PM Central Originally published: Oct 07, 2014
It's a story right out of a Ronald Reagan campaign speech: Oklahoma City resident Brandi Newman saw an elderly woman asking for money to buy food and generously handed over some cash -- only to spot the same woman a few minutes later behind the wheel of what appeared to be a brand new, candy-apple-red Fiat.
They work off of a sheeps WEAKNESS... and the weakest minded people on this planet are the sheep who enable and cry for them... and the weak sheep who DEFEND enabling the beggers... like Decktard. Who is closer to a KILLary and a scumbag Bernie than he wants you to know.
DON'T FEED THE ANIMALS... THEY BECOME DEPENDENT. Grow thicker skin... not be a WEAK SHEEP.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
