[Peace-discuss] getting malled in america

[Arun Bhalla]

I don't know how many times I've seen this story in the last few days,
on this list, other lists, other internet sources.

It's shocking how much Reuters & AP screwed up the story.  It's not really
as cut and dry as it may seem.

Check out the police reports and witness statements at this URL:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc_o_day/crossgates2.html

Other shoppers were complaining about being harrassed by a couple individuals,
which is why security and police intervened.  I can't say if the Maryland
mall incident had as strong of a case, though.  But it was unreasonable
for the police to ask Downs to remove his anti-war shirt after he declined
to stop soliciting.

This is still an important issue, though, as malls want to seem more and
more public by taking on community events like a civic center would but don't
want to relinquish their private property rights.

Arun

"jencart" writes:
> Mall Dress Code--It's okay to show your belly button and most of your boobs, 
> but not yr heart or mind....... Makes about as much sense as everything else 
> going on these days....
> Jenifer C.
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> 
> Group Protests N.Y. Peace T-Shirt Arrest
> 
> By DAMITA CHAMBERS
> 
> Associated Press Writer
> 
> March 5 2003, 2:52 PM EST
> 
> GUILDERLAND, N.Y. -- About 100 anti-war demonstrators marched through a mall 
> Wednesday to protest the arrest of a shopper who wore a T-shirt that read"Pea
> ce on
> Earth" and "Give Peace a Chance." 
> 
> "We just want to know what the policy is and why it's
> being randomly enforced," said Erin O'Brien, an
> organizer of the noontime rally at the Crossgates
> Mall. 
> 
> Protest leaders were scheduled to meet with the mall's
> manager after the rally. Calls to mall officials were
> not immediately returned. 
> 
> On Monday, Stephen Downs, 61, and his son were asked
> by mall security guards to remove their peace-slogan
> shirts or leave. Downs' 31-year-old son, Roger, took
> off his shirt. But Downs refused. 
> 
> The guards called police, and he was charged with
> trespassing and pleaded innocent. 
> 
> Police Chief James Murley said: "We don't care what
> they have on their shirts, but they were asked to
> leave the property, and it's private property." 
> 
> The men had had the T-shirts made at a mall store and
> wore them while they shopped.
> 
> Eight anti-war activists arrested in Townsontown Mall
> Demonstration 
> 
> 
> Sunday, March 02, 2003
> 
> On Saturday, March 1, at 4:30 p.m., eight anti-war
> activists were arrested in the Townson Town Center in
> Towson, Maryland. They were among 18 activists
> representing the Iraq Pledge of Resistance, Baltimore.
> 
> The eighteen arrived at the very crowded mall at 3:30
> p.m. and began handing out leaflets peacefully. Most
> of the activists had taped pictures of Iraqi children
> to their clothing. The leaflets argued that the Bush
> administration 
> should not attack Iraq. Fifteen minutes into the
> leafleting the mall security and local police arrived.
> 
> The police told the activists not to continue
> leafleting or risk arrest. The activists continued to
> leaflet. This continued for about 45 minutes. Finally
> the police told the activists that they could either
> leave the mall or be 
> arrested. The eight stayed. At about 4:30 p.m. they
> were subsequently handcuffed and led away. As they
> were led away some patrons were heard joining the
> applause begun by the ten activists who were not
> arrested.
> 
> The eight arrested are Max Obuszewski, Maria Allwine,
> Levanah Ruthschild, John Dornheim, Marcel Estevez,
> Donald (Donny) Gann, Mark Giffen and Ann Forno. They
> were each released on recognizance between 5:45 and
> 6:30 a.m. on 
> Sunday, March 2. They have each been charged with
> trespassing, failure to obey a police order and
> disorderly conduct. They are going to trial on June
> 10th, 2003.
> 
> This was the second nonviolent civil disobedience put
> on by the Iraq Pledge of Resistance at the Towsontown
> mall. On December 23, 2002, a group of about 10 people
> handed out leaflets until the police forced them to
> vacate. No one was arrested.
> 
> The Iraq Pledge of Resistance is a national
> organization promoting a peaceful resolution to the
> Iraq crisis. Members engage in nonviolent civil
> disobedience and promote the UN Charter and
> international law generally.
> 
> 
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--
Arun Bhalla