Reader: Freedom of speech and assembly should trump keeping Occupation Denver site tidy

Our Occupy Denver coverage both before and after the group's tent city near the State Capitol was dismantled spurred a gusher of commentary. Here's an opinion about the city's interest in maintaining the area as weighed against the Bill of Rights...

By Michael Roberts

October 17, 2011

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Our Occupy Denver coverage both before and after the group's tent city near the State Capitol was dismantled spurred a gusher of commentary.

Here's an opinion about the city's interest in maintaining the area as weighed against the Bill of Rights.

Ken Roberts (no relation) writes:

There is no constitutional requirement to keep tidy or even healthy public spaces. There is no constitutional requirement to conduct "business as usual." There are, however, constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

Even if occupiers wanted to shut down the capitol altogether, that would take precedence over any and every state, or even federal law, to the contrary.

That's the nature of democracy. It isn't necessarily tidy. It isn't necessarily orderly.

If you can't live with that, move to a police state.

For more memorable takes, visit our Comment of the Day archive.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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