MB Civic

The following tidbit appeared in a non-prominent place in today’s NYT:

“Fourteen people have been arrested at the Supreme Court for protesting the use of the death penalty in the United States. A court spokeswoman, Kathy Arberg, announced the arrests soon after justices began hearing oral arguments on Tuesday. It is illegal to demonstrate on the court’s plaza that faces the Capitol. The protests are timed to observe the 35th anniversary of the execution of Gary M. Gilmore; the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty in 1976, and Mr. Gilmore was put to death in 1977 after a 10-year moratorium on executions. Protesters say there have been 1,277 executions since then, with at least three more scheduled for this month.” (Emphasis mine.)

Let me repeat that: “It is illegal to demonstrate on the court’s plaza that faces the Capitol.”

Am I missing something here? It would seem to me that the plaza of the Supreme Court of the United States (WHATEVER direction one is facing!) should be the MOST “legal” place for freedom of speech and assembly that one could possibly imagine.

All I can say is…wow. I’m gobsmacked. And this is NOT a minor issue…