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LIBERTY AND JUSTICE
DENIED TO LIBERTY & JUSTICE GROUP?
See also:
ACLU INVESTIGATING EVENT DENIAL
(pictorial news release, May 8, 2003)
News Release
May 1, 2003
“When we said we intended to have a day of civic education focused
on the ideas of liberty and justice, we didn’t envision it unfolding
quite this way,” said Charlie Smith, chairman pro tem of the Van
Buren County Green Party and coordinator of the referenced event,
set for this coming Saturday, May 3, in Leslie, Arkansas. “However,
no matter the outcome of the legal relief we seek, the event will go
on,” Smith affirmed.
Smith’s comments, made with surprising aplomb considering the
startling move by the Board of Directors of the Ozark Heritage Arts
Center (OHAC) and the monkey wrench it throws into Smith’s plans,
encapsulated a series of events which began the evening of Tuesday,
April 29.
According to accounts from several sources, many of which declined
to speak “on the record,” the OHAC Directors decided on Tuesday
evening to revoke previously granted authorization for the use of
OHAC facilities which were reserved to host a booksigning and Q&A
forum featuring noted Arkansas authors Mara Leveritt and Susan
McDougal, scheduled to be held there this coming Saturday.
“I was astonished when I found out,” said Karen LaFargue,
co-organizer of the day-long festival-type event which includes
performances by 3 different bands and a lot full of exhibitor
booths. LaFargue said she got the news via a phone call from board
member Cathy Kappus late Tuesday evening.
LaFargue also related that at first the reason given for the abrupt
about face was “a lack of qualified staff” to oversee use of the
facility. But LaFargue said, this position had also ultimately been
reversed by the board and, according to OHAC Board President, Tom
Knapp, board members were now taking the position that they had been
“uninformed” about the political nature of the sponsoring group.
“As I understand it,” said Smith, “the board has taken the position
that they do not have to honor their contract with us because the
Van Buren County Green Party is a political organization. That is
not just cause for them to breech their agreement with us. Besides,
we have gone to great lengths to ensure that this event is 100%
non-partisan and purely educational. In fact, our emcee is a well
known Democrat and our media liaison is a dyed-in-the-wool
Independent. Plus the fact that anyone, of any political
affiliation, is welcome and invited to set-up an exhibit booth, free
of charge. But more importantly, as we said from the beginning, this
festival is not about ‘politics.’ It is about the idea of liberty
and justice in context of where our society is on this global map
today.”
“This program has been in the works since January,” LaFargue
continued. “And I am insulted by these acts. It’s petty and
childish. I mean how can they claim ignorance? Our first news
release about plans for this event was distributed February 23, and
we had already confirmed use of the OHAC facility for May 3 with
OHAC’s representative, Sheila Jacobsen, before that.”
“I felt blindsided,” Smith confided. “This was a stroke out of the
blue. And, sadly, it seems that we’ll have to take legal action in
order to have our Constitutionally guaranteed contractual rights
upheld.”
Smith said that he and others have obtained legal advice to file for
injunctive relief and that this action is in process. At the same
time he affirmed that event organizers are not waiting for the
outcome of these proceedings to determine the fate of Saturday’s
program.
“All the exhibitors, musicians, and speakers scheduled for the event
will be there as planned,” Smith assured. “It’s just the location of
some of the activities that hangs in the balance right now. And what
we’re focused on is implementing a plan of action that will
accomplish what we set out to do. That is, have a day of civic
education about liberty and justice. It just seems that now this
overall experience is becoming a whole lot more ‘hands-on’.”
For more
information on this subject, contact Charlie Smith, 501-745-6910, or
visit
http://www.gozarks.com/vbcgreens/ on the Internet.
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May 2, 2003
Hello again… I’m sending this note to update the folks on my
“liberty and justice festival” list about what will transpire
tomorrow in Leslie if the OHAC board cannot be persuaded to allow
the use of that facility:
The speakers forum, beginning at 7:00 pm, will take place at the
“bandstand” area adjoining the Masonic Lodge (which is very near the
park downtown) BRING A LAWN CHAIR and/or a BLANKET and be prepared
to enjoy the great out of doors. If you have any available, bring
EXTRA lawn chairs as there are many people who will be coming (in
response to the news releases and advertising) that do not have a
clue about what has happened and will be expecting auditorium
seating and we have no direct way to get in touch with them.
As to the booksigning, this will take place in the downtown area,
near the bakery, beginning sometime in the afternoon (depending on
what time the authors arrive). As I understand it, Mara is scheduled
to arrive early in the afternoon with Susan probably not getting
there until around 6pm, however I cannot guarantee the accuracy of
these times as both women are driving in from different locations.
What I can say for sure is that our booksigning coordinator, That
Bookstore at Mountebanq Place, will be set up and open for business
by about 1pm – either at OHAC or at the Exhibitor Lot on Main Street
(about half a block down from the bakery). And I must say here that
the “TBM Lady” (aka: Maryalice Hurst) has gone far more than the
second mile in supporting this event. In addition to having Susan's
and Mara's books available for purchase and signing, she
has hand-picked a superb selection of great Arkansas history books
written by Arkansans. So if any among you have the inclination to do
a bit of (very early) Christmas shopping, please remember that books
make wonderful gifts!!!
As to all other festivities, to the best of my knowledge, they shall
go on as originally slated beginning with the bands performing at
the bandstand, starting at 1pm.
Beyond that, please let me share with you the great outpouring of
support that has come through me to all of you --- the folks who are
making this event happen. I have received more phone calls and
emails than I can count, all expressing confusion and indignation
over what has taken place and at the same time cheering us on. If
the quality and volume of the encouraging comments I have received
on your behalf is any indicator, in a very short time the blessings
of liberty and justice shall be made manifest among us all.
:-)
Christine,
OLA volunteer
http://www.gozarks.com/ola
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