George:

A few years ago my kids and I went to the Fourth of July celebration at the Mall Amphitheater. While we were standing at the end of the brick pavement at Sixth Street, Uriah J. Fields approached the celebration. He was carrying a sign protesting the imprisonment of African Americans in American prisons and singing. He entered the area where the celebration was taking place and was promptly told to stop singing and protesting or leave. He chose to leave. I was shocked to see this happen, especially during a celebration of American freedom. I learned that the Downtown Foundation had rented the space and so it had become a private space and thus they had the right to restrict Mr. Fields and prohibit him from singing and protesting in the street in front of City Hall.

I would like to know if the two interactive components of the Free Expression Monument, the podium and the chalkboard, will be placed in an area that will be rented to private groups who will then be able to prohibit people from using these venues during the events. Or will they be in such proximity to the rented area that speakers and writers will be able to disrupt the private events? Do you have an answer?

Kevin Cox (electronic mail, May 27, 2005)