Should Silent Expressive Dancing Be Allowed At The Jefferson Memorial?

Strange question.

 

In 2008, a group of young people did a flash mob dance at the Jefferson Memorial.  There were few people around besides the park police and they listened to the music with earphones so as to not disturb others with music.  But they were told that dancing was illegal and one woman was arrested.

 

It takes a while for things to get our court system.

 

The woman who was arrested was Mary Oberwetter.

 

In papers filed by Alexandria attorney Alan Gura, she argued that the low-key dancing was protected free speech, surely allowed at the feet of Thomas Jefferson, of all places.

 

The suit also noted that routine groups of noisy school kids disrupt the quiet mood of the Jefferson far more than silent dancing.

 

The courts didn’t buy it.

 

They agreed with the U.S. Park Service that it has a duty to maintain “decorum” at the nation’s monuments and that any demonstrations, whether one person or many, are not allowed inside the nation’s memorials.

 

Here's a link to an article and video: Jefferson Memorial Dancing a No-No

 

In mid-May, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia firmly agreed.

 

 

Yesterday, a group of people showed up at the Jefferson Memorial to silently dance in protest to the court's decision.  Five were arrested, and the park police were not exactly gentle with them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember last year when US School Children Told to Stop Singing National Anthem at Lincoln Memorial … They Did Any How!

 

U.S. Park Police confirmed that the students were in violation of federal law and their impromptu performance constituted a demonstration in an area that must remain “completely content neutral.”

“The area they were standing in and singing is an area that is restricted for this type of activity,” said Sgt. David Schlosser. “The United States Park Police is absolutely content-neutral when it comes to any sort of demonstrations in these areas.”

 

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Hmmm.  At the Lincoln Memorial and at other of our national monuments the area must remain "content nuetral"?????  Excuse me?  This is America and how is singing our national anthem a demonstration of anything except the fact that these kids love their country?

 

 

And the American Flag is Now Offensive in Schools?

 

 

 

 

God bless the America that once was.  And pray that she become that same America again.