here’s the kicker. he bought the shirt at THAT mall that day.

I don’t get this.  Don’t you guys have some sort of constitutional right to free speech?

In theory, yes. However, it appears the local laws consider that Mall to be private property and as such when the customer was asked to leave or be charged with trespass he was in the wrong to refuse. Being private property the Mall doesn’t have to have a good reason to ask anyone in particular to leave the premises. So, in short, the Mall doesn’t have to respect your right to free speech within its own confines. If the Mall is considered a public space then your right to free speech may come into play.

Still, most malls won’t ask people to leave unless they are actually causing problems. From what’s being said there is some debate over whether or not these two gentleman were causing trouble. I just find it somewhat irritating that someone can wear a statement in favor of peace and end up having someone complain and cause his eventual arrest.

Well, at least we have the freedom not to shop at that mall…

And for anyone that is interested I found this on their contact us page:

PLEASE NOTE: ALBANY WEB SITES.COM IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH CROSSGATES MALL. WE HAVE TAKEN DOWN THIS WEB PAGE DUE TO THE LARGE # OF EMAILS THAT WE ARE RECEIVING IN REGARD TO THE ARREST OF THE FATHER & SON THAT TOOK PLACE AT CROSSGATES MALL.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FORWARDING YOUR COMMENTS TO THE MALL, WE HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY CROSSGATES MALL TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC RELATIONS #.

(716) 854-8182

THANK YOU

Obviously they don’t want to encourage your calls with an e-mail address or toll free number but just in case you want to give them a piece of your mind…

Welcome to Bush’s america where wearing a T-shirt can get you arrested… blah, blah, blah… Same old liberal tripe. That local ordinance was put in place by some lunatic long before Bush was elected. Bitch if you must, but bitch properly.

Nothing liberal about it. It’s true that the ordinance was put into place a long time ago, but the problem I have isn’t with the ordinance itself. It’s with how it was applied.

Since Bush has come to power he and his administration have been waging a war of erosion on everything from the wall separating church and state to various civil liberties. This has created an atmosphere that allows things such as someone with a T-shirt with a message of peace to be arrested for daring to wear it in public.

Based on your statements then I suppose you wouldn’t have a problem with someone wearing a t-shirt that says “War Is The Solution. Bomb ‘em back to the stone-age!” being arrested for wearing it in a public mall? Hey, why don’t we just arrest everyone who wears a t-shirt with a message we don’t like! That way no one has to be offended by anyone promoting an ideal.

Better yet arrest anyone displaying a pin, shirt, or patch with the American flag on it. Maybe your idea of patriotism is blind devotion to whichever conservative is in power, but my idea of patriotism is the defense of our Constitution which is bigger than a man or his office. Bush will be gone (with luck and a proper election) in 2004, but the United States will remain. I thought that conservatives cared about this country too...am I wrong?

If we can strut our stuff in public with clothes from “Hot Topic” saying: “I’m a Bitch” Or “I’m one big fucking ray of sunshine”

Then we can walk around wearing shirts that say: “Lets give peace a chance”

For crying out loud. That’s recockulous…

Man, some people need to grow the hell up seriously.. Let’s stop letting other’s opinions piss people off so easily. It’s just retarded…

Seriously…