[Peace-discuss] Re: UBA Letter

[Phil Stinard]

Carl,

What would you suggest for a political route to follow?  I can imagine 
picketers outside the mall carrying signs that say "Free Speech Ends Here,"  
"Private Property:  Check your free speech at the door," "I won't shop where 
I can't speak," etc.  The mall gets so little business as it is, a picket 
might scare the management into changing their policy.

--Phil

>Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 11:56:36 -0600
>From: "C. G. Estabrook" <galliher at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu>
>Subject: [Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] Re: UBA Letter
>To: "Morton K.Brussel" <brussel4 at insightbb.com>
>Cc: Susan Davis <sgdavis at uiuc.edu>,
>	Peace-discuss at lists.cu.groogroo.com,	Danielle Chynoweth
>	<chyn at ojctech.com>
>Message-ID:
>	<Pine.SGI.4.10.10412031139120.860328-100000 at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu>
>Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
>Your comments seem quite right, Mort.  Lenin also said that the
>bourgeoisie would sell the rope with which it was to be hanged -- but
>apparently not the mall space where it might be criticized.
>
>Malls as the new public squares must recognize the rights that the Bill of
>Rights made governments recognize more than 200 years ago. More than a
>generation ago, US businesses were forced to recognize rights of public
>access.  Now they apparently must be forced to recognize civil liberties.
>We have to insist that our public representatives do that. It's happening
>across the country, and Urbana has an opportunity to do so in regard to
>Lincoln Square.
>
>Given what seems to be the fecklessness of the Illinois courts on this
>matter, it's probably pointless to sue them -- except to publicize the
>matter.  The route has to be political primarily, I suppose, but I think
>we may want to take advice on a suit, if only for the publicity. --CGE
>
>
>On Fri, 3 Dec 2004, Morton K.Brussel wrote:
>
> > I received the following letter from Paul Tatman, Board President of
> > the Urbana Business Ass'n.
> >
> > November 28, 2004
> >
> > Thank you for your recent letter regarding the Market In The Square. I
> > appreciate your position concerning policies governing the indoor
> > market. As you are aware, there are inherent differences between the
> > outdoor market and the indoor market. The outdoor market is held on
> > public property and is completely accessible to the public, including
> > vendors, nonprofit groups and shoppers.
> >
> > The indoor market is held on private property that creates certain
> > parameters that do not apply to the outdoor market. The property of
> > Lincoln Square management is very clear. Political groups are not
> > allowed to participate in political activities inside the mall.
> >
> > The Market in the Square is meant for vendors wishing to sell
> > locally-made and locally-grown products to shoppers inside the mall.
> > The Management reserves the right to approve or deny individual vendors
> > based on mall policies.
> >
> > Lincoln Square has shown committed support for nonprofit and community
> > groups over the years and will continue to do so.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Paul Tatman
> > Board President
> > Urbana Business Association
> >
> > Nothing new here. There is no attempt to reconcile our requests with
> > their rigid(?) rules, to admit that in fact the public subsidizes the
> > Mall operation with its business and (perhaps?) with its taxes. Nor is
> > their any attempt to define what is encompassed by "political"
> > (Girl/boy scouts?, VFW?, church groups?,…). Does political mean
> > "controversial" to somebody or other?
> >
> > So, quoting Lenin, "What is to be done?".
> >
> > Our original letter is attached: