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Freedom of Speech?
This flier [see graphic] has been floating around the past week and, as was reported in Friday's Phoenix, accuses Earth Mart of supporting animal rights extremists.
The event in question is an outreach event held by Club Veg, a non-profit organization that provides education on vegetarian lifestyles. It will feature vegetarian dishes and information on The Great American Meat Out, being held nation-wide March 20.
Allison Geiger, director of Club Veg's Philadelphia chapter, said that the outreach event won't be an "in your face thing." Likewise, Earth Mart co-owner Lisa Longo has said Club Veg is merely one of many groups the store hosts for events, and that neither herself nor Earth Mart are vegetarian/vegan.
As for the allegations, both women agree that they are not true. Club Veg has nothing to do with animal rights, Geiger said, and she doesn't support PETA at all.
But now the reputation of both Earth Mart and Club Veg are slandered; the flier invites people to harass Earth Mart regarding the allegations.
I understand freedom of speech. That's the reason Longo agreed to host Club Veg in the first place. Do you believe the flier, which no individual or group has claimed responsibility for, is protected under this freedom?
Pro-choice supporters commonly protest at pro-life rallies. Supporters and opponents of the War in Iraq sometimes clash at protests held by one side or the other. I understand all of these incidences; both sides of an issue should be allowed to be expressed.
But what about this case? I would have at least liked the author of this flier to come forward and take responsibility for it. But the document directly invites people to harass Earth Mart. Protesting is one thing; allegations without any information to back them up is another.
Posted by
Brian McCarthy
posted by The Phoenix Files at
9:20 AM
6 Comments:
Sure, the flyer is protected under freedom of speech as long as the statements are truthful. They are not, according to the story.
People who protest at least have faith in their convictions. They stand up in public and make their case. It's not as if Club Veg or Earth Mart would persecute or threaten harm to this person, so next time have a shred of courage, not just a printer.
What's kind of funny is I am a vegetarian and had no idea this event was being held. Thanks to this article I am planning to attend!
-- Shawn
It's sad that one of the women's comments imply that animal rights is bad or dangerous and that the other woman has to let us know she is not veg*an.
Why should people who are veg*an because they don't want to contribute to animal suffering and murder have to defend themselves?
The people who need to defend themselves are those who _do_ contribute to murder.
Animal "murder"?
LOL. Sounds like this thing is going to draw a bunch of kooks.
Sheesh. I grew up in Phoenixville and there were a lot of normal blue-collar people there. But it looks like a flock of left wing liberal kooks have settled there (and Charlestown) over the last few years...
Let me ask you this - do you have as much of a problem killing a viable human fetus in the womb as you do with "animal murder"?
This is the Center for Consumer Freedom's MO -- just check out their entry on Wiki or do a Google search.
Earthmart should hang tough -- they are being harassed and slandered. There's no reason they should put up with that. I hope the police catch whoever is involved.
meat out literature in my office. 204 bridge
"Freedom of speech" involves speaking responsibly and accurately. The flier did neither. Protesting needs to be done responsibly, as well. When groups protest, they start by approaching the target and trying to work out the problem openly. The writer of the flier failed to do that as well.
Protests are wonderful; it shows that people give a darn about something, anything, which is better than the status quo of not caring. Protesting protests is still showing an interest and showing that you give a darn. However, an information table is not a protest, and the writer of the flier was looking to harass people without even knowing what was going on.
The limited space in the newspaper article didn't allow for a full accounting of the interview. The brief comments of mine that appear seem negative because the whole conversation isn't there. I in no way meant to imply that there was anything wrong with the animal rights movement. I was merely clarifying the FACT that Club Veg is not an animal rights group, and we are definitely not extremists who harass people at there homes (I do NOT approve of that as a tactic of the animal rights movement.) Another FACT is that I don't support PeTA with my money or efforts. I prefer to support local groups with their direct action. (The conversation was about 10 minutes long, so I definitely cannot give you the complete context of the statements in this limited forum.)
As for "anonymous" saying, "Let me ask you this - do you have as much of a problem killing a viable human fetus in the womb as you do with 'animal murder,'" those are two unrelated issues. People are allowed to pick and choose what they want to support. Most people choose to go to the mall. When was the last time you spent a day trying to make the world a better place through direct outreach?
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