Who’s free to speak?

Recently, at the behest of congressional aides, I was arrested in the halls of Congress for participating in a peaceful impeachment sit-in. Two days later, [two] Asheville residents were arrested by a deputy sheriff because they chose to use the American flag (in a manner protected by the Supreme Court) to demonstrate distress about this country’s condition. Although discouraging, it isn’t too surprising that over-zealous bureaucrats and law-enforcement officers ignored the Constitution and overreacted. However, another recent incident in which free speech was trampled on was shocking and disturbing.

Malaprop’s—known for its progressive attitude—hosted a barbeque-cookbook author who was promoting his book. During the event, Terri and Stewart David peacefully stood on the public sidewalk in front of the store and distributed leaflets containing information about the healthy, cruelty-free and environmentally friendly choice of a vegetarian diet. In response, Malaprop’s banned the Davids from the store “indefinitely.”

Malaprop’s management claims that the Davids were confrontational and made the author uncomfortable. I have known the Davids for over 10 years and have participated in many events with them. I know them to be professional, reasonable and dedicated activists. I’ve never seen them react in a hostile or aggressive manner, even when harassed. Therefore, I have every reason to believe them when they say that they didn’t act in a confrontational manner and that, in fact, the author, his entourage, and a Malaprop’s representative were the ones who acted aggressively. However, the bottom line is that the Davids conducted their leafleting on public property and had every right to do so.

The right to exercise free speech—even when it makes us uncomfortable—is fundamental and necessary for a strong democratic society. We cannot afford to ignore this steady erosion of our civil liberties.

— Leslie Armstrong
Asheville

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Webmaster
Mountain Xpress Webmaster Follow me @MXWebTeam

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

One thought on “Who’s free to speak?

  1. moontime

    As someone once said, “I may not agree with what you say, sir, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.