Judge: Tree Protestor At Obama’s Inauguration Banned From D.C.

3 months ago

Court’s decision has conservatives and liberals up in arms over free speech

Yes, it was annoying. Antiabortion activist Rives M. Gorgan, on Monday, climbed a tree during President Barack Obama’s inaugural ceremony and screamed words of protest throughout much of the event. When he came down, he was arrested. But it’s what D.C. Judge Karen Howze did to Gorgan that has conservatives and liberals defending his free speech rights. Gorgan has been banned from stepping foot in town until a court hearing on Feb. 25. The decision has ignited a vigorous debate over free speech in the nation’s capital. “Banning him from the District because he’s sitting in a tree or speaking out, I think is absurd,” said John Whitehead, who heads the civil liberties group that is taking Gorgan’s case. “He’s strange, but do you know how many strange people enter D.C. every day who probably shouldn’t be here?” (Washington Post)