The people spoke about the demonstration ordinance — “a really good thing”

(The latest in a series of posts on City government)

Maybe we should just all pause for a moment because here we are, there are a lot of folks in this room on the political left of things and the political right of things, and we’re all here together, right? And we’re having a civil conversation about something we care deeply about. Which is the good governance of our country. And I think we should just take a moment to say “this is a really good thing.”
(Mary Lou Hatcher)

Gadfly loves your voices. He has told you that over and over again. And one of the missions of the Gadfly project is to capture and archive those voices — to give them the longer life they deserve.

The newspapers can only give us a few quotes.

Gadfly always promotes having the primary sources available.

Rather than Gadfly tell you what went on in regard to the demonstration ordinance last night, read . . . listen.

And, as Mary Lou said, realize that “this is a really good thing.”

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Indeed you do not, have not banned the most dangerous items, guns. (Nancy Tate)

Deal with the knuckleheads, but don’t penalize the masses. (Dana Grubb)

The goal may not be to restrict free speech, but the effect will be exactly that. (Ziona Brotleit)

Your thoughts are 2 policeman for each demonstrator . . . absurd. (Diane Dilendik)

The creation of an ordinance limiting group size of all gatherings in the City to be a bit of overkill. (Mary Toulouse)

Smacks very strongly of 1920, 1930s, and 1940s fascist movements . . . It’s a very, very slippery slope. (Dana Grubb)

The notion that law-abiding citizens can be fined and jailed for exercising free speech and constitutional rights is unconscionable. (Andrew Snyder)

At a time when we are worried about voter suppression, we do not need to suppress or make more difficult another form of citizen participation. (Nancy Tate)

Totalitarianism . . . doesn’t happen overnight. (Beverly Hernandez)

Bethlehem is not just a sleepy little town like it used to be. (Mary Toulouse)

We need the right to protest, demonstrate immediately. (Jake Stofko)

Spontaneity . . . is one of the reasons very important to us. (Melissa Gallagher)

Thank God, we got a good country . . . let’s keep America straight. (Mike Garcia)

It’s a broad ordinance, and broad applicability is a problem, not a solution. (Ziona Brotleit)

The City should already be ready for everything possible. (Melissa Gallagher)

Conflicts [will arise] from attempts to enforce a rule that a reasonable American would recognize as unconstitutional. (Andrew Snyder)

Musikfest presents a whole different sort of problems than demonstrations and making your voice heard. (Diane Dilendik)

We need to be calling our citizens to speak out, urging them to do this, not setting up roadblocks. (Nancy Tate)

The U.S. Constitution is not like a restaurant menu. (Dana Grubb)

I think this will kill the spirit of the community. (Beverly Hernandez)

This is restricting law-abiding citizens. (Melissa Gallagher)

Shame on you guys! (Mike Garcia)

We’re penalizing the law-abiding, the masses. (Ziona Brotleit)

Free speech delayed is free speech denied. (Andrew Snyder)

This bill would force 6 or more Christmas carolers in the Christmas city to have a separate activity permit. (Paul Saunders)

This new registration policy is actually criminalizing free speech. (Diane Dilendik)

We don’t need laws restricting demonstrations in Bethlehem. Not one bit. (Dana Grubb)

Bethlehem will become the byword for socialist government. (Beverly Hernandez)

Acts as a barrier to public discourse in a public square. (Mary Toulouse)

You are making more rules and more hoops for those of us who are already law-abidng citizens. (Melissa Gallagher)

Bethlehem was regarded as a beacon among the cities in the Lehigh Valley in terms of its respect for rights. (unknown)

We don’t want to create impediments to peaceful assembly. (Ziona Brotleit)

We have laws in place for illegal behavior. (Diane Dilendik)

The authors must be fantasizing about problems which in reality do not exist. (Nancy Tate)

If this law passes, the police will demand, show me your papers. (Paul Saunders)

If anyone did feel threatened [at the 2017 incident], why weren’t the police asked to intervene? (Dana Grubb)

This ordinance minimizes the freedom and smothers any event of the people . . . There can not be a more straitjacketing law. (Beverly Hernandez)

If you don’t have free speech, you can’t let the people know what’s going on. (Jake Stofko)

Musikfest . . . is not more important than the protection and preservation of our constitutional rights. (Ziona Brotleit)

This unconstitutional law will shackle, cripple, and violate the individual rights of everyone in Bethlehem. (Paul Saunders)

Insurance? Good-bye spontaneity. (Diane Dilendik)

This ordinance is full of overreach and minutia. (Nancy Tate)

I grew up in the 1960s, so let’s talk about civil rights . . . There were no restrictions placed on it, and it brought societal and political changes. It changed this country for the better. (Dana Grubb)

ArtsQuest as the driving force behind this is letting the tail wag the dog. (unknown)

This will have a chilling effect on the willingness of people to get involved. (Beverly Hernandez)

Permit is a public record . . . winds up on the internet . . . unintended consequences of open public record. (Tricia Mezzacappa)

I would call on [the police] . . . to refuse to enforce that law . . . and impose fines and jail sentences on all of you who would vote this in. (Scott Frey)

Adds an unconstitutional and unAmerican law . . . requiring prior restraint. (Paul Saunders)

I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill. (Diane Dilendik)

Ziona Brotleit