‘Free speech zones’ coming to suburbs?

Earlier this month, a small group of individuals engaged in their monthly peace demonstration at Dunton Park in Arlington Heights. For the first time in my memory, an officer in an Arlington Heights police car demanded that we remove signs from the parkway and move a “peace” sign from the gate of Dunton Park.

Julie Sass, organizer of this demonstration, has demonstrated for five years every second Saturday of the month, rain or shine. The participants have been polite. We have not damaged public property or obstructed passers-by. The demand seemed to reflect some personal decision by the unidentified officer, but it does raise the question of the right of citizens to demonstrate in a peaceful manner.

Much has been made of Second Amendment right to carry a weapon, even concealed, in nearly every other state. What happened to First Amendment rights? First Amendment rights include the right to free speech, the right to petition, and the right to practice your own religion — all carefully regulated to protect the rights of others.

One observer noted that the rights in the First Amendment only extended to another’s nose, obviously a reference to making sure that the exercise of your First Amendment rights does not hurt another. Such care does not seem to be applied to the Second Amendment.

I was outraged when both major political parties set up “free speech zones” far away from their national political conventions in 2008. Delegates would not be troubled with expressions of opinion by individuals or groups. There were even raids on individuals not reporting for the major television networks.

Is Arlington Heights initiating a new policy of establishing “free speech zones?” I thought that the United States of American was one big free speech zone!

Herb Best

Streamwood