U.J. -

I have been told that an African-American man with a beard was removed from the market of exercising his freedom of speech on Saturday, May 29, 2004, and that he was escorted by several police officers. Was this you?

George Loper (electronic mail, June 1, 2004)

Hello George Loper:

Yes, you heard correctly. I am the African-American man with a beard who was asked by Mike Moonjoy, City Market manager, to cease my speaking and singing during my visit to the City Market in downtown Charlottesville. And when I refused to comply with his request he called the police and I was escorted out of the City Market by policeman Fielding and two or three other policemen.

To elucidate further. It was Saturday morning, May 29, 2004, on Memorial weekend, just hours before the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington.I had come to the City Market in downtown Charlottesville with the intention of expressing my thoughts, in words and songs, regarding the significance of the World War II Memorial and Memorial Day. I was about to begin singing "The Star Spangled-Banner" when Moonjoy asked me to cease my verbalizing or leave the City Market. I informed him that I would do neither and recited to him the First Amendment (Article 1) to the U. S. Constitution which says: "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 peacealby to assembly, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Then I told him that I a Korean veteran had served my country to make sure that I and other Americans' right to freedom of speech would be protected.

Let me interject here that last year I visited the City Market and expressed myself in thoughts and songs without any problem. John Chapman, founder of the Charlottesville Prison Books Project told me that on the day I spoke and sang people gave more books and contributed more money for that prison project than had been given on any single day before. And I recall how people personally expressed their appreciation to me for sharing with them.

To continue with my Memorial weekend experience at City Market: as I indicated earlier, policemen Fielding and several other policemen escorted me out of City Market and to the far side of the sidewalk across the street nearest the City Market. I told the policemen the same thing that I had said to the City Market manager, i.e., I have a right to freedom of speech and that I was exercising that right. I also stated that in doing that I had not violated any law.

After my ten minute encounter with the policemen I decided that I would not return to the City Market although the policemen did not ask me to leave. I reasoned that the interest other people at the City Market had shown in this matter let me know that what had transpired had redeeming value and that nothing would be added by me returning to the City Market on that day insofar as promoting the spirit of Memorial weekend was concerned.

It is my conviction that each citizen has a duty to stand up for his rights and the rights of others and to refuse to surrender his own rights just in order to appease or please other people.

George, I have given you these extended comments, primarily, because I am aware of your commitment to freedom, justice and equality. Oh yes, somebody informed me that you are a liberal. I retorted, "I would rather know acompassionate liberal than a compassionate conservative."

Thank for asking.

Uriah J. Fields (electronic mail, June 2, 2004)