The July 4th Commisar Of Manassas
By Greg L | 14 June 2007 | Manassas City | 19 Comments
This July Fourth in Old Town Manassas, we will celebrate the 231st anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the instrument by which our nation was established.
Historic Manassas, Inc., the company which runs this celebration, and which has been handed all the necessary powers of government in order to do so by the Manassas City Council, has decided that the proper way to celebrate this inherently political act is to prohibit any and all political activities by candidates, issue advocacy organizations, or other non-commercial activities this year. If you want to be a part of celebrating the founding of our nation, you better have something to sell, otherwise you aren’t welcome. Historic Manassas, Inc. has been given nearly unlimited authority to control who can and cannot be on public property, what constitutionally protected rights may be exercised, and what the acceptable means are of celebrating the political establishment of our nation. If you don’t like it, then too bad, since the directors of Historic Manassas Inc. don’t have to answer to you.
This is somewhat reminiscent of how national anniversaries are celebrated in such strongholds of liberty and freedom as North Korea, Iran and Zimbabwe. Would angry protesters at a July 4th event more adequately represent the principles our nation was founded under than the actual event which aims to celebrate those founding principles? You bet.
Outraged? You might want to let Executive Director Linda Robinson know how you feel. You can reach her at (703) 361-6599, or by email at lindarobertson@historicmanassasinc.org
UPDATE: A reader contacted Historic Manassas, Inc. and asked how they could be barring political advocacy groups from participating in activities sponsored by HMI when they’re promoting an ADA Fair at the Harris Pavillion on July 24th which is for the benefit of an organization that engages in political advocacy. The response of Mr. Steve Urry, the Event/Festival Coordinator for HMI was to throw the disabled folks under the bus in order to protect their unlawful restrictions of political free speech:
Thank you for pointing this out. The fair that you refer to is not an event of ours, nor is this group a vendor in any of our festivals. Our administrative staff posted their fair without authorization, as they thought they were helping the disabled.
I have instructed them to remove the information from our website.
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19 Comments
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Direct calls to the council also. Not sure if Linda will pass on the negative stuff.
Andy Harrover, are you listening?
This is BS. I know for a fact that the Lions club was allowed to set up during the Fall Jubilee, and conduct free hearing exams. They parked right next to the pavillion. Let me guess, the hard of hearing will be thrown under the bus too?
This guy Steve Urry sounds like a real people-person.
This is BS. Greg, you’ve got to use your influence with the board to get this tossed out. I mean, come on, it’s practically a ritual for politicians to hit the July 4th fairs. I’m sure the Rep and Dem Candidates will all be there to shake hands and introduce themselves.
It certainly is. There are some discussions going on in the background, and hopefully they will resolve this.
If not, Help Save Manassas will likely file for an injunction, I will start inspecting in detail the authorizations provided to HMI which allows them to run public events in Manassas by decree, and there might even be protesters in Manassas on July fourth incongruously protesting the event’s unconstitutional and politically tone-deaf decisions.
Don’t be too surprised if the local media jumps all over this story.
I see that they wasted no time in pulling the ADA fesival from their website.
Now accepting the Humanitarian of the Year Award, on behalf Historic Manassas, Inc.
Steve Urry!
“Don’t be too surprised if the local media jumps all over this story.”
Sounds like this would be a great place for the politicians to show up.
yes, I’m listening and I’m seeing what can be done.
I am wondering what the penalty could be for handing out political information. There is not city ordinance against it as far as I know. Are you going to be arrested on a public street for handing out literature for a political candidate? Who has given HMI the power to dictate what can and cannot be done on OUR streets? I don’t remember Council voting on anything like this. ( That does not, however, mean that they didn’t )
Nothing they can do. They’d have a multi-million dollar law suit on their hands due to First Ammendment.
Greg, lets go down there and hand out campaign lit for Ham Sandwich and see what they do.
I am disgusted that they would cancel that ADA event for expediency’s sake. I had been planning on attending the event with my disabled son - it was actually on my calendar - to see what additional services might be available for him in the community through the nonprofits attending. Now we will not have that opportunity - our family (and others like ours) have robbed of it by HMI.
Political activity at community events, especially July 4th and on through election season, is long part of the American experience, so I see your point and support it. But I think little of the participants in this little escapade who have seen fit to shove those with disabilities back in the closet just so those running for office can’t hand out bumper stickers on the 4th of July.
Help Save Manassas, huh? Things like this make me wonder if Manassas is worth saving.
Anonymous, I don’t believe they cancelled the ADA event. Rather, HMI took the event off their listing of upcoming events.
The ADA Fair IS NOT an HMI event. Is was simply listed on the HMI website as a courtesy.
Would Anonymous 7:22 be an HMI employee?
There will be a special area set up at the July 4th fair for political and other organizations that may wish to distribute information or promote positions. This solution was reached after substantial discussions with the city administration, council members, and the involved group representatives.
Such groups should file a timely application, pay the fee and provide proof of insurance just like any other applicant.
The city administation and the city council and HMI all desire to protect free speech rights and have done so in this case, at least in my opinion.
The ADA fair was not canceled. HMI simply removed its listing from their website in response to a complaint.
I think that complaint was unfair, especially to families living with disabilities. In my home, ADA is not a political issue - it is a piece of legislation that gives opportunity. I think HMI’s reaction was extreme as well by dropping the fair from their website. Both sides of this argument (Urry and the complaintant) bear equal responsibility for throwing families living with disability “under the bus.” I sincerely hope they refrain from doing so again in the future.
This episode is just shameful on many levels. And I am disappointed that Tim and Andy failed to comment on the ADA Fair being used as a pawn in this matter.
Did they actually say that information could not be distributed at the 4th of July, or that a political group just couldn’t have a booth? I’d like some more factual information, rather than heresay, before I make an opinion. Maybe everyone should step back and get the facts before they start making uninformed statements.
Even before the solution was reached, there was never any prohibition on handing out political or any other material. I was assured by the Executive Director of HMI that the only issue was whether a booth site would be rented to political activist groups.