County limits free speech to 3'x3' space ... in woods

Yay free speech..

County limits free speech to 3'x3' space ... in woods

A Michigan woman is suing her county over limiting her petition gathering to a 3-by-3-foot square of ground in a 135-acre park, a restriction one attorney said is in the running for the title of the "most unconstitutional [free] speech zone ever."

Earlier this summer, The Detroit News reports, Denise Miller sat at a picnic table near the beach at the Linden County Park in Genesee County, Mich., gathering signatures as part of a campaign to recall Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. A park ranger told her she had to leave, and the Genesee County Parks office later confirmed that she needed a permit to petition signatures within the park.

But after she applied for and received the permit, she discovered the parks office had limited her to a tiny "Freedom of Speech Area" that she says is located 20 feet from a remote corner of a parking lot and far from foot traffic.

Just in case she couldn't find the designated 3-by-3 foot zone, parks officials spray-painted an orange box in the grass to mark the spot.

Now the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit in federal court, asking U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh to strike down both the ban on petitioning without a permit and the rule restricting petitioning to the "Freedom of Speech Area."

"In a free society, citizens do not need the government’s permission to simply petition in a public park," said Michael J. Steinberg, ACLU of Michigan legal director, in a statement. "Barring petitioning anywhere in a 135-acre park except for a tiny, isolated spot is a particularly egregious violation of the First Amendment."

Go ACLU!

But it's even worse than that...

According to the ACLU's lawsuit, the restrictions placed on Miller were even more limited: The permit only allowed her to petition from July 1 to August 1, 2011, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., even though the park is open until 9 p.m. in the summer. Furthermore, her sign announcing the petition was to be placed within 10 feet of the orange square in the woods, while other groups' activity signs – such as those offering directions for birthday parties and family reunions – are routinely placed more than 100 feet away.

And shame on these anti-constitution bastards who should lose their job at bare minimum and be put in jail at maximum... or be deported to North Korea. Whatever they choose.

Is michigan the model for the future state of tyranny? Why is michigan descending into tyranny faster than any other state? No gardens in front lawn. 3X3 space for free speech, the economy is already destroyed. What gives?

Use the 3'x3' foot space, build a tower equipped with loud speakers amplified to 10,000,000 watts of audio power, have an open microphone at the base of the tower, and let anyone shout out whatever they want.

This is incredible,my girlfriend read this and said it won't be long until we will be living like she did growing up....she grew up in soviet Russia,this story actually scared her.Seems like a lot of this going round....did they ask for her house keys too?....peace ya'll

Originally posted by Fractured.Facade
Use the 3'x3' foot space, build a tower equipped with loud speakers amplified to 10,000,000 watts of audio power, have an open microphone at the base of the tower, and let anyone shout out whatever they want.

The government owns the sky, it was made official in Executive order 12346 operation bumble bee.

reply to post by Vitchilo


It is sad to say that a lot of the people who are aware of what this means.And is frightened by the way the US is going are those who came to the US to escape tyrants. American people are so dumbed down and couldn't care less attitude no wonder they are doing things like this and getting away with it. It will take a take down with their boots on the necks of the people before a lot of them will say. Gee I wondered what happened.

Unbelievable, what kind of crap is that. Spray painting a 3 x 3 square for her to stand in? It sounds like a joke, or a story from a "Here is what your future is" doomsday type of book. Jacked up story!


Off topic, but wanted to add:

Can't say that I'm a big fan of the ACLU but this sounds like a good cause for them to take up. Bet they wouldn't have batted an eye if she were petitioning to have a democrat governor recalled.

reply to post by Vitchilo
That's not only sick, but cowardly and immature.
I'm speechless! (forgive the pun)