Free Speech fight in Fresno

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FOR MORE INFORMATION: (559) 970-0446 OR (559) 226-0477

On the 4th of July our Free Speech rights, as guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution, will be put to the test. In a display of excessive corporate control over citizens rights, representatives from Fashion Fair mall are threatening to arrest anyone who attempts to read The Constitution of the United States, The Declaration of Independence, or The Bill of Rights. Risking arrest, 10 people will read the documents at the main front entrance of Fashion Fair mall at 2 PM on Friday, July 4. Fashion Fair security has told event organizers that they intend to demand an end to the activity and if the readings continue people may be taken into custody.

Fashion Fair claims that they can control the time, place, and manner of all events at the mall. Corporate representatives say that they have not issued a permit for this event, therefore it is illegal. However, in a case involving 19 anti-sweatshop activists that were arrested at Fashion Fair in May 2000 the court ruled that the mall did NOT have the right to arrest citizens for exercising their First Amendment right to Free Speech. “Just because Fashion Fair mall has a rule against Free Speech does not make it the law of the land,” said event organizer Mike Rhodes. “If Fashion Fair made a rule banning African-Americans from the mall and tried to enforce it by arresting violators, they would not prevail in a court of law. We will not allow them to subvert the Constitution and deny us our First Amendment right to Free Speech on the 4th of July,” Rhodes said.

Will Fashion Fair arrest people for reading patriotic and historic documents on the 4th of July? We don’t know. We encourage the media and public to be present and find out if the First Amendment of the Constitution is still a relevant document that applies to life in America today.

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First Amendment of the Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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Quote from the Macerich Company* 2002 Annual Report:

"We are committed to making communities better by utilizing our redevelopment and operational expertise to make each property not just a mall but the Town Center - the economic engine and social heart of the community where it is located."

* The Macerich Company is the corporation that owns Fashion Fair