January 25, 2008
Dear Coalition Friends:
Local journalist and commentator Tom Sherwood comments in his column in The Current on the National Park Service's proposals to restrict public gatherings on the National Mall:
THE CURRENT NEWSPAPERS
January 23, 2008
TOM SHERWOOD'S NOTEBOOK
The National Mall for all ... ?
This week of the national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is probably a good time to focus a little attention on the National Mall. Not because the proposed King Memorial is planned for a site at the Tidal Basin. And not because about 250,000 peacefully protested there in 1963. The daily papers have reported the beginning of a serious discussion over the future of the National Mall and whether it will still be a place for protests as well as families and tourists. More than a few groups are worried that among the plans the National Park Service is considering for refurbishing the Mall - greener grass and all - some include keeping future protesters penned into a space at the foot of the Capitol.
Whether it's the anti-abortion throng that, like this week, marches to Capitol Hill every year (at least as long is Roe v. Wade is upheld) or anti-war protests, no public advocacy group wants the Mall to become some well-kept Disneyland. More public toilets and places to sit, rest and eat would be nice, but not at the expense of public protest. Freedom-loving Americans might worry that another piece of our open society could soon disappear. It's an important debate; no firm decisions have been made. D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton has encouraged the Park Service to make the Mall more hospitable, but we don't think she means order over liveliness. At least we hope not.
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