Revised free-speech Catawba County ordinance up for vote

NEWTON, NC Catawba County commissioners will decide on Monday whether to approve an ordinance that makes clear free speech uses of county property.

The use of county government property for protests became an issue after a group, Catawba Valley Citizens Against Hate, wanted to use the Catawba County Justice Center grounds to protest an anti-gay rights sermon that Providence Road Baptist Church Pastor Charles L. Worley gave on Mothers Day.

At the time, the countys ordinance for using the Justice Center for an event required an application at least 14 days in advance. But the ordinance didnt take into consideration expressions of free speech, officials said after the protests, Debra Bechtel, county attorney, said at the time.

The group was given the go-ahead to use the Justice Center at the end of May for a protest but the request highlighted a problem in the countys ordinance.

Thats when county staff got to work to amend the ordinance that addresses free speech.

The proposed ordinance revision to Chapter 34, Article II of the Catawba County Code of Ordinances says certain county government-owned property can be used if certain conditions are met.

One condition is that if a protest, or gathering, is 25 people or more, an application has to be submitted and include the group name, contact person and information, date of the gathering, the site location and how many are anticipated to attend.

Other conditions include:

The proposed amended ordinance doesnt allow camping on county property, campfires unless given the OK or someone to tie or chain themselves to each other or an object to prevent free movement of people.

Bechtel said she and other county staff looked at changes other municipal and county governments have made to their ordinances to address free speech expression and read cases that address the issue. Some of the cases included US Supreme Court cases on constitutional and First Amendment law.

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Revised free-speech Catawba County ordinance up for vote