Edwards Calls Cops on Peaceful Leafleters;
Campaign Expels Dissenters From Public Space
EXETER, NEW HAMPSHIRE -- During a public meeting hosted by his campaign yesterday, staffers for Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) had police eject Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana (GSMM) leafleters from the Exeter Town Hall building. This is the latest development in a series of incidents in which Edwards' campaign workers have attempted to block GSMM members from peacefully protesting his position on medical marijuana in public spaces.
In past statements, Edwards has seemed supportive of dissenters' rights to free expression. During his February 3, 2003, appearance on the MSNBC show Hardball, Edwards was questioned about several anti-war activists who were allegedly arrested outside Edwards' office while protesting his stance on the Iraq war. Edwards seemed to defend the demonstrators' rights to express their views, saying, "My response is you have every right to voice your view, I'm glad you're here tonight. You have every right to protest it anyplace that you'd like to protest." Edwards continued, "That's one of the great things ... about democracy."
But on Tuesday, for the first time during the campaign, Edwards' staff had police expel GSMM leafleters from a public space. Members of the group were in the midst of distributing flyers that described Edwards' medical marijuana position to the crowd gathered inside Exeter Town Hall when several members of Edwards' staff stopped GSMM Campaign Coordinator Aaron Houston, surrounding him. One Edwards campaign worker attempted to grab the flyers out of Houston's hands, saying, "I need to take that from you." The campaign staffer also threatened to call the police department. An Exeter police officer arrived minutes later and directed Houston and another GSMM member to move outside the town hall.
Outside the town hall's front entrance, the police officer told Houston, "People have been removed before from public functions for voicing opinions contrary to the person's who is trying to talk. ... If they tell you at the door that you're not welcome, then you're not welcome." When Houston questioned the officer about whether Edwards' campaign could control views expressed inside the town hall, the officer replied, "I haven't looked at the permit or anything else, and at this time of night, it would be hard for me to do that."
"For a man who claims to be a defender of civil liberties, Edwards seems to be terrified of free speech," said Houston. "This is just the latest in a series of disturbing events that raise serious doubts about Edwards' commitment to civil liberties."
For further information about GSMM, please see http://www.GraniteStaters.com