It’s free speech – Pueblo Chieftain

Typical behavior of the neoconservatives is to suppress First Amendment free speech rights, right to assemble, voting rights and a litany of other rights, when it applies to others who do not agree with them.

The El Pueblo History Museum drama is a prime example. Two self-appointed Catchers in the Rye decide they are the arbiters of what constitutes free speech. The Chicano group or any other group that rented the museum has every right to express their political views as they see fit. The objections of state Rep. Clarice Navarro, R-Pueblo, and Brian Mater have no legal standing.

The effigy of a Donald Trump pinata is free speech. Pinatas are made to be broken. So when the Trump pinata was struck and broken, that was offensive to Navarro and Mater. If the pinata effigy would have been of Hillary Clinton, you would not have heard a peep out of them.

The definition of effigy is a sculpture or model of a person, animal or object. The crucifix Jesus nailed to the cross is an effigy. There have been numerous times when a prayer group, a Mass or benediction have been held with a large crucifix or other effigy present at the museum and other publicly owned buildings.

The First Amendment free speech clause, does not differentiate between repudiation or adulation:

The Orwellian big sister and her mini-me are now monitoring the situation; so are the righteous citizens of Pueblo and the American Civil Liberties Union.

No apologies are needed from Museum Director Dawn DiPrince. Wake up. Its free speech.

Frank Peralta

Pueblo

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It's free speech - Pueblo Chieftain