Judge tosses 'Buy Nothing' charges

[cyberpj]

Nice to see free speech is still allowed in Delaware.......

Judge tosses 'Buy Nothing' charges
By SEAN O'SULLIVAN / The News Journal
04/05/2005

Anna, Laura and Rachel White, along with a friend, Terri Carter, were arrested by state police on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, at Christiana Mall, for promoting an anticonsumerism event called Buy Nothing Day. The women were wearing Santa hats and white T-shirts with the words "NOTHING - What you have been looking for" and "Ask me about NOTHING" on them. Carter also had a video camera.

After a mall security guard told the group to leave, they did, they said, but they were surrounded by four or five state troopers when they got to their car. The four were arrested and charged with third-degree trespassing, a violation which is less than a misdemeanor. If found guilty, they could have faced probation and fines of up to $345 for a first offense.

Attorney Sid Balick was representing the group at the request of the American Civil Liberties Union.....

(snip)

"People should not be arrested for exercising their right to speak in a public place," said Drewry Fennell, executive director of the Delaware ACLU.

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2005/04/05judgetossesbuyn.html

[SouthernDem2004]

1. Hmmm, did the author read their own article before titling it?

Makes you wonder. The charges were dropped because of the change of court date confusion. It had nothing to do with free speech but with Trespassing. On the other hand, if the statement that they were told to leave and were in the process of leaving is true then the Trespassing charge would not be valid. Of course we only get one side of the story. Who knows...