TRI In The News

Political Message Not Welcome in State Park

5/23/2011

TRI IN THE NEWS: POLITICAL MESSAGE NOT WELCOME IN STATE PARK

From OneNewsNow
Original article available here.

The Rutherford Institute believes that challenging a park ranger about his action against a park visitor's political sign will remind him of the law.

According to Institute founder John Whitehead, 73-year-old Jack Faw drove to a national military park in South Carolina and parked his vehicle. The ranger then confronted him about "a sign he had on his back window." Whitehead, who has seen the sign, describes it as "a transparent sign...about Ron Paul's 'Campaign for Liberty.'" But Faw "was told by the park ranger that he could not have it; it was against park regulations, and he had to leave."

When additional discussion produced the same response, Faw left, but he later took action.

"We've written the park services, saying that there's a recent court decision saying that you can have free speech in parks," Whitehead explains. "You can even carry signs in parking lots. And then there's a park regulation which allows it."

So he suggests the park service should issue a memo to all rangers that outlines First Amendment rights. When situations like this arise, The Rutherford Institute founder points out that the problem often stems from a lack of education and training. But once reminded of the law, parks can quickly remedy the situation.