Members of the recently formed Andover Tea Party had petitioned the city to allow them to hold a rally commemorating the signing of the Constitution. They were denied due to, get this, their group's political affiliation. The 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, a nonpartisan law center in Ohio, has filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of the Tea Party group, claiming a violation of their First Amendment rights.
Apparently, the Andover City Council is citing a local resolution that prohibits any for-profit advertising or political signs on the Andover Square. The problem, it seems, is that the trustees believe celebrating the signing of the Constitution is a political event.
Okay. I can buy that. Under that standard, though, so is celebrating Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and Independence Day, all of which have had events cleared by the Andover City Council. There's supposed to be a ruling on a restraining order against the Council before Friday.
File this under, “More Evidence that the World has Turned Upside Down.”
Photo from the National Archives.
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