Atlantic Highlands and the 1 st Amendment

Considering The First Amendment … I have to ask

How do these things start?

How does it get from a man standing on a public sidewalk wearing a handmade sign that expresses his own opinion, to the Mayor of a town well known for its friendliness, beauty and great restaurants and other businesses shouting an obscenity in response to a stranger saying hello, Lori?

And how does it get from reporting on these very factual events to being cut off from certain Facebook pages because the administrators of those pages don’t like the facts…or the truthful reporting of them? 

How does it get from reporting on these very factual events to Jeanne L sending Veni Vidi Scripto an overly aggressive PM? (Which I appreciate, it is her Right)

For those who read an article all the way through before forming an opinion, or swear, or shut it out or just call the writer nasty names, read this chronology and see how this once …and really still…beautiful town has now been enveloped in anger and yes, divisiveness.

Or, put another way; why would anyone think that publishing the facts would lead to divisive action?(Another activity which is protected by the First Amendment)

It is better to try to hide bad things until they crop up far worse?

Doesn’t curing a problem begin with knowing what the problem is?

Or do people really want to be left believing only one side of any issue?

Let’s start with the sign carrying man on the street. Parents said their kids couldn’t sleep at night, were scared all day, the crossing guard was involved, the police were involved, school administration was involved….that’s all news.

Further news is that the man was simply exercising his rights to free speech and the mayor agreed not only did he have that right but she would protect it.

Then there was some talk about a group coming into the Harbor in September. Not so much news, since they have been coming here for a few years, these people who fly American flags, on top of their vehicles or from the windows, sing, wave to strangers on the street, enjoy the beauty of Atlantic Highlands and probably spend a few bucks at local restaurants or bars before they leave.

But all of a sudden there were things to talk about…stories this group of people of all ages, coming in with their families and pets, were really the Proud Boys, a terrorist group known in many countries. No one knows where the story started, but it was there…the Proud Boys were coming to Atlantic Highlands.

That’s news.

That apparently started an entire plethora of actions and activities. The police Chief was involved, he had to answer to his mayor and council members, he had to check to be sure the town was safe. He assured everyone who had contacted him that everything was under control, no need to fear, no need for special permits, no need to do anything. He would be sure traffic moved safely and orderly along First Avenue.

That’s news.

But then there were e-mails and texts about a parking lot at the Harbor having a no parking sign closing it off, this on a weekend in a borough owned park at the harbor. One explanation was the signs were posted because the lot was being leased by a private company starting Monday and they had to be sure no one parked there overnight  and did not leave in time for the Monday morning arrival of the lease.

Then there was the awful e-mail to the police chief saying “would there be any reason why we couldn’t keep the gazebo lot locked in the Harbor tomorrow (Sunday, the day before the lease started) until our visitors depart? If they can’t park, maybe they won’t stick around.”

If they can’t park, maybe they won’t stick around.” Not a very friendly question from an elected official in a very friendly town.

That’s News

That started a list of texts and other communications among elected officials and paid employees.

That’s News

But the Garden State Deplorables came in. They came in their cars waving flags, their kids laughing and waving out windows as they came down First Avenue, some with Charlie Kirk’s picture, or name, or prayers for him, some with crosses of Christ on the cross. Some came on motorcycles, some also decorated with American flags or Charlie signs.

They gathered at the harbor where a lot of local residents, including former elected officials from mayor to council members were there waiting for them, ready to shake hands renew friendships, join in the prayers, talks and speeches about Charlie Kirk and his way of encouraging young people to vote.

That’s News

But then, the story changes. It was not all love and remembrance; the mayor was there.

Driving her own car.

Several visitors to town said she was stalking them….if she was not, as she said, they certainly felt that she was.

Some say she plowed right through the middle of their gathering, rather than take a road around.

The Mayor challenged that opinion at the public meeting, she denied stalking, and she reminded everyone she is the Mayor, she does visit the Harbor every day, and although she had been out of town most of the day until that point, she did want to go to the harbor as she always did.

That’s News

But it was when one of the pickup truck drivers called out “Hi Laurie,” that this very professional and intelligent lady who loves the town she represents, apparently forgot she was mayor, forgot she was a lady, forgot it was a happy, peaceful gathering, and forgot these were strangers in her town. Instead of a simple wave and pass, she chose to shout out a most unladylike obscenity to him, (another protected right). One that provoked him to shout out “That’s nice. You’ll never win again!

That’s News

At the public meeting when all of these events unfolded , the Mayor at first said she had no regrets for anything she did that day but later apologized and said she regretted her obscenity.

That’s News

So Veni Vidi Scripto covers all these actions and events. And knowing all rights in the United States of America are protected under that first very important amendment to the Constitution , including the right to free speech, the articles were read by thousands.

And missed by hundreds more.

Why?

Because the very people who proclaim everyone has the right to free speech, except if they are carrying a sign on a public street or writing the truth about things that happen in Atlantic Highlands, are administrators of Facebook pages, those lines of communication allegedly open to everyone with an opinion. Those administrators make VeniVidiScripto stories “pending” or simply block them. Wipe out their right to free speech. Simply because they do not like the truth being told.

That’s News

All of that aside, it does still make me proud that in spite of all this folderol which started with an older out-of-shape male resident of the borough carrying a handmade sign on a public street that allegedly scared kids on their way to school and led to the highest elected official in town telling a visitor to F….Off that so many, including the entire staff of VeniVidiScripto have given and continue to give so much to the United States and do their part and more in protecting this great country on land, in the air, and even under the sea.

Even for the people who don’t practice, encourage or allow free speech.

We would all be better served if we remember what the Supreme Court has opined on the issue:

Justice Brennan’s assertion that “the Government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable” in Texas v. Johnson, Justice Holmes’s sentiment that free speech is for the thought we hate, and Justice Kennedy’s view that “First Amendment freedoms are most in danger when the government seeks to control thought”

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