The First Amendment rights of a kiosk owner have hit a brick wall in a Charlotte, North Carolina mall.
Entrepreneur Loren Spivack‘s “Free Market Warrior” at Concord Mills sells items such as “Impeach Obama” bumper stickers and baby bibs that say, “My parents chose life. Thanks Mom and Dad!”
But his vantage point was protested by a letter writer to the Charlotte Observer, who linked his anti-Obama and pro-life messages to bigotry, ignorance and racism — resulting in Spivack’s lease being allowed to expire July 31, 2009, without an option to renew.
“Nobody in that mall is selling anything from a conservative perspective. Plenty of people are selling things with a liberal perspective, with a pro-Obama perspective,” Spivack said. “Given that we are in America and not North Korea, we probably should have some stuff on the other side.”
Mel Simon, the owner of the mall group, decided the items Spivack sold were not “neutral” enough. Simon has been a generous contributor to Democratic causes and politicians, including Barack Obama. Spivack thinks the decision about his lease is political.
“If they have decided to make their malls conservative/libertarian free zones, where those opinions can’t be expressed, I do think it’s their right to do that, but it’s our rights to publicize the fact that they are doing that,” he said.
Yesterday about 100 people rallied in front of the mall to support Spivack and his right to free speech, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer.
Hmmmm… counties and states that did not support BHO are claiming to have gotten less stimulus money and now freedom of speech is being attacked. The thugs are coming out in full force. Too bad they don’t spend more time and money on what matters- like the schools in Chicago.
Sherriaz I’m not sure this is really something you can blame on the current administration. Loren Spivack touched on something very important here. He affirmed in the quoted statement he confirmed his belief in individual property rights and freedom of speech at the same time. In so much as the counties and states are concerned that I can’t be so sure about.
FYI, the same owner runs Arizona Mills. Not that I would advocate taking your business elsewhere.