Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center

RMPJC statement on bannering on July 4 (07/06/2005)

RMPJC supports the right of Free Speech at public events on public property. We believe holding banners at the 4th of July fireworks in Folsom Stadium falls within the Constitutional definition of free speech.

We believe the rights of citizens were violated when they were told by CU police they would be given misdemeanor summonses for holding banners on July 4.

On the evening on July 4, at Folsom Stadium, the police claimed that KBCO wanted the banners removed.

On July 5, KBCO said it is not their policy to have the banners removed, but university policy.

From a quote in the Daily Camera on 06/06/05, it appears that the CU police believed that citizens holding the banners violated the following CU policy:

Folsom Field Policies and Information

The University of Colorado Athletic Department wants all fans to have a safe and enjoyable experience while taking in a football game at Folsom Field ....

Signs

The hanging or draping of signs, banners, or flags on stadium walls, bleacher areas, ramps, or any area of, the immediate stadium and grounds is prohibited. Hand held signs, banners, or flags that obstruct, endanger, or are offensive to other patrons will be confiscated.

RMPJC maintains that our banners did not obstruct or endanger others. We were in the very last row at the back of the Stadium, and thus did not obstruct anyone. Our banners were very lightweight and were held by about 6 people each. There was no wind and no danger of banners being blown into other people.

The language on our banners “Protect Free Speech” and “Troops Home Now” was not offensive in the usual sense of the word, although people may disagree with our message.

The RMPJC will seek a meeting between the RMPJC, representatives of the University and KBCO to ensure everyone’s freedom of speech at future public events at Folsom Stadium.

See our photos of the July 4 bannering.

Pre-Event Press Release
July 4, 2005

Contacts:
Carolyn Bninski ... 303-444-6981 x2, 303-444-0117
Rich Andrews ... 303-673-0098

Citizens to Hold Banners at July 4 Fireworks In Boulder

Citizens affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center intend to hold two large banners at the July 4 fireworks in Boulder. The banners say: "Protect Free Speech" and "Troops Home Now". The citizens believe that their banner-holding is protected by the First Amendment (which protects free speech) to the Constitution of the United States. They base this belief on the fact the fireworks constitute a public event (open to the public without charge) which celebrates a national holiday, and which is held at a public university.

RMPJC believes it is essential for all citizens to express dissent to illegal and anti-democratic policies and practices by the government, and especially fitting on the national celebration of our independence as a nation. The RMPJC has made several attempts over the weekend to call the sponsor of the event (KBCO) to notify the station of their intentions, but has not been able to reach anyone. Last year, KBCO, after some negotiation, did allow RMPJC members to hold banners at the event.

Another group will hand out flyers to people as they are entering Folsom Stadium. The flyers detail the curtailment of civil liberties under the Patriot Act and other legislation and call on citizens to phone their representatives in Congress and ask them to eliminate especially egregious sections of the Patriot Act.

The "Troops Home Now" banner refers to the illegal U.S. occupation of Iraq. The Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center believes that the U.S. presence in Iraq is the cause of the violence in Iraq, and that if the U.S. were to leave, the Iraqis could begin to work out their differences, create peace and internal security, and begin to rebuild their country. According to exit polls from the January 30, 2005 election in Iraq, 82% of Sunnis and 69% of Shiites want the US out.

Recently, 128 Congresspersons voted for the Woolsey Resolution, which calls for the immediate withdrawal of US armed forces from Iraq, among other things. In a June 6-8, 2005 Gallup poll, six in Americans say they think the United States should withdraw some or all of its troops from Iraq, the highest number who have said that in the Gallup poll. About three in 10 want the U.S. to withdraw all troops now and about three in 10 said some troops should be withdrawn now. A majority, 56 percent, said they would be upset if more troops are sent to Iraq. In addition, in an ABC-Washington Post poll (June 2-5, 2005), two-thirds say they think the United States has gotten bogged down in the war in Iraq. Almost six in 10 in both polls said the war was not worth fighting. Each poll had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage point.