Treasure Coast Tea Party demands apology from Port St. Lucie
July 8th, 2009 by TCPalm.comPORT ST. LUCIE — Members of the anti-tax group Treasure Coast Tea Party are demanding an apology from city officials, claiming their civil rights have been violated.
Organization members said they were singled out at the city’s Freedomfest over the weekend by being put into a special area — with a sign nearby stating Port St. Lucie did not back their views or opinions.
A spokesman for the city called the accusations “nonsense.” But Port St. Lucie officials continue to receive e-mails and phone calls critical of the city’s actions at the new Civic Center.
City spokesman Ed Cunningham said the city won’t stop groups expressing potentially offensive views from renting space at events.
But the city intends to designate all such groups into an area they will call “Section B,” signifying only where those groups will be allowed to set up, Cunningham said. He also said the disclaimer sign will be at future events where groups pushing views that some may find offensive — possibly including local Republican and Democratic clubs — intend to set up a booth or display.
“From now on any group may fall under that category,” Cunningham said. “This is not arts and crafts, not food and beverages. It’s some other category. So we created one.”
The local anti-tax group says the city was trying to silence its First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly on Saturday.
The group used its rented booth at Freedomfest 2009 to recruit new members and ask people to sign petitions on issues such as Florida sovereignty and its opposition to the American Clean Energy and Security Act.
Carl Iken, an organizer of the Treasure Coast Tea Party, said the group wants to know why the city would put up the sign that blocked the view of their booth and harass members.
“We paid for our booth like any other vendor there, to be in that spot, and they were preventing us from being seen by anybody going by,” said Iken. “They went out of their way to make us look different, to make us stand out.”
He also wants to know why the issue hasn’t come up at other events held in Port St. Lucie, such as at the Latin Heritage Festival or the Treasure Coast Pride Festival.
Cunningham said there hadn’t been any similar situations that would have required the sign in the past. He said the area was perfectly accessible to the public and that the sign was not set up to block anyone’s view.
City Attorney Roger Orr recommended the sign as a means to notify those who could be offended that the city wouldn’t block the rights of those who want to express their views, Cunningham said.
Iken said tea party members will attend the July 13 commission meeting to address the issue.
By Jim Turner
Tags: art, attorney, club, critical, fall, festival, Florida, food, offender, Republicans, security, violations, violators
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July 8th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Seems to me that the city did them a favor by allowing this group that advocates the overthrow of the Federal Gov’t, compares our President to Hitler, compares his administration to the Nazi SS, and has had nothing positive to say since his swearing in, the permission to assemble. Their safety and the safety of those of us who are not in the party of NO was considered. The fact that our President took on this enormous challange to correct the criminal behavior of the last President, and has not been given the oportunity to make headway says it all about the Republican party. I guess that is why their numbers continue to dwindle. Oh well.When the country finally gets turned around, and that will take quite some time, it will be too late to jump on the band wagon. Stop listening to Rush and Fox and open your minds! Joe Sixpack
July 8th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Yeah right. The city put them in a “special” section.
Civil rights violation? YES.
I’m offended by the truck nutz that the city allows to be sold by vendors at city events. Why aren’t those vendors moved to “Section B?”
Does the city do this to all of the local politicians? Lock them up in “Section B?” No they don’t. I think they should the next time there is an event where all the politicians are at. Afterall, they all have their own opinion also. Or is that opinion “condoned” by the city?
Better yet, the city should make up t-shirts with the back stating what was on this sign and have all the politicians wear them while they are standing on the CITY RIGHT OF WAYS waving their signs.
This is segregation of groups of people. Can’t anyone else see that?
Enough said.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Who would have thought that freedom of speech and anti-discrimination would become a Republican issue?
Let’s at least be honest. If this was an anti-war protest, illegal immigrant rally, gay rights or some other issue being otherwise peacefully promoted there would not have been a big government sign erected. But an anti-tax rally is all of a sudden offensive?
All this did was guarantee overtime for the attorney who recommended the sign.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Any questions toward this administration are being suppressed. We are headed for some dark days unless those who disagree are heard. Hell yes, their rights were violated.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Your rights are being taken away one at a time. And you are worried about offending people. Obama is burning Washington to the ground and here at the local level they are on a mission to kill freedom of speech. First the booths. Then you will be told your T-shirt is too offensive. So what I am reading is the CITY of PORT ST LUCIE is for runaway spending, higher taxes, cradle to grave health care, take over of banks, take over of auto companies and supports the socialism of the United States? My kinda town?
THE TEA PARTY PEOPLE NEED TO CONVERGE ON CITY HALL AND YELL, HONK HORNS and GET LOUD and GET IN TO THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE HOME OF THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW.
IF NOT FOR PSL there would be no Jerry Springer Show.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Joe Sixpack obviously had one too many already today. First of all, Mr. Obama sought the challenge and it has become quite clear that he is not qualified to meet the challenge. Secondly, the Democrats control the White House and Congress so the lack of headway says it all about the Democrats, not the Republicans.
The country is not turning around. That implies going back to the conservative morals and limited government that existed when this country was successful. The country is headed in a completely different direction. A direction that will crush the dreams of all Americans who wish to earn their place in this world. No one wants to jump on the band wagon. We prefer to drive ourselves without the “help” of the government. Wise up soon before it is too late.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Section B = Put the Blacks there and those crazy government protestors.
PSL = RACIST TOWN + BIG GOVERNMENT TOWN
PSL = They are for higher taxes, wasteful spending, runaway govenment, bank takeovers, socialized medicine, cap and traitor and more. Port St Lucie started out as a GDC mess and continues to this day as a City with no beach, no one with any brains in City Hall or the County Commission for that matter.
Attention People of PSL: Bend Over because the PSL big government machine is going to roll you too.
What happend to freedom of speech? I hope the Tea Party People SUE the City of PSL.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Hey Joe Sixpack,
You are a full time left wing blogger. The Democrats are screwed because OBAMA is going to ruin the party forever. The Democrats are talking about how the Republicans are a shrinking party? Just wait you crackhead.
Sarah Palin is going to MOP THE FLOOR with Barack Hussein Obama. He was born in Kenya, adopted in Hawaii (media coverup) He is a Black Colonialist + Marxist. He will be the death of the Democrat Party forever. Hillary never looked so good. People voted for the black guy because he was the black guy. They wanted Tiger Woods but got a Marxist (a wolf in sheeps clothing).
Hey Joe Sixpack we know you are a plant. You have no sixpack you have a beer belly. You are a drug addict on welfare living in Section 8 housing getting your weekly check from Obama.
Its only a matter of time RIP DEMOCRATS - BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA KILLED YOUR PARTY.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
It is fascinating that Port St. Lucie officials describe groups who support the wisdom of our forefathers and the liberties protected by the supreme law of our land are now “expressing potentially offensive views.” King George felt the same way!
The actions of officials from the City of Pt St Lucie shows just how ignorant our current leadership really is.
July 9th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Me thinks Joe sixpack drinks WAY too much during the daytime hours. So, it is ok to put protestors behind a sign like animals but not any other group, huh Joe? Welcome to the United States of America where we have a little thing called the Constitution and a Bill of Rights so that we can speak our mind without fear. I guess that were you come from they don’t have that or is it that is the way that you WANT our country to be. If it is the latter than you will be glad to know that we are on our way, but remember that you may just find yourself behind a sign someday too and who will be the blogger that rights the same statement that you have just made. Just read your comment again and place yourself behind the sign, if you have the guts that is.
July 9th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I apologize for the spelling errors. Fast fingers but not very accurate.
July 9th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Can someone tell me why they say we are a “political” group? We dont endorse candidates, we dont support parties. We will hold any government official accountable for violations of their duty regardless of the letter after their name. The only special interest we represent is Freedom and the Constitution. Last I checked they are not political but AMERICAN.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Carl I couldn’t agree with you more!