Remember the uproar in our county last year about the nativity scene in front of the courthouse in Bartow, Florida? A Baptist church sneaked onto the grounds during the night to put it up, though already forbidden to do so.
Then along came this sign:
Now we find the ACLU is testing this $500,000 insurance requirement, just ahead of a Baptist church here.
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051202/NEWS/512020363/1134ACLU Request Faces Decision
County to decide whether to enforce its rule requiring $500,000 of insurance on displays.
BARTOW -- A new showdown over free speech begins today.
County officials are expected to decide whether to approve or reject an application from the American Civil Liberties Union to use the new free speech zone outside the county administration building.
The ACLU's application does not include the county's required $500,000 insurance policy, which has been a controversial element of the new free speech zone.
"It is a test of the policy," said Rebecca H. Steele, director of the ACLU's West Central Florida office in Tampa. "From the research I've done, the $500,000 insurance requirement is too onerous . . . it's an unconstitutional chilling of free speech."
The ACLU may challenge the issue in court if the application is rejected, Steele said during a phone conversation with The Ledger on Thursday.
"If the county denies it, we'll look at their basis for denial and move from there," she said.
County Attorney Joe Jarret said he expects to make a decision on the ACLU's application today.
Free speech is expensive in more ways than one.