Sometimes you read a story headline and you think, “No way that’s correct.” That’s what I thought when I read the title of this article but after reading the actual story I found it factually correct. The city of Gould, AK is looking to basically ban the freedom of speech within city limits:
Gould, Arkansas, is a small town of about 850 people. If the city council has its way, those 850 people will be barred from gathering together to discuss city matters without approval from the city government.
[…]
Last Monday, the council voted to ban groups from gathering or forming without city approval.
Sonja Farley, a member of the Gould City Council, said that no matter the group, if anyone meets to discuss the city, that meeting must be approved by the city.
“You can’t just come in here, get with four people and decide to start an organization,” Farley said, adding, “You will go through your city council with legal documentation and get approval.”
That’s certainly interesting because I’m pretty sure that violates an often ignored piece of the United States Constitution we refer to as the First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Yeah the city’s ruling certainly does violate that particular piece of literature that our country is supposedly founded on. If you’re unfortunate enough to live in Gould it would be in your best interest to tell the city council to go fuck itself and continue gathering in groups. When a law is unjust there is absolutely no reason anybody should comply with it and any law other than those against harming others or the property of others is unjust.
Another funny thing about this story is the city’s name, Gould. Gould is also slang for the tyrannical protectionist race in Stargate SG-1, the Goa’uld. How fitting that a city banning the freedom of assembly should be named after a race of aliens bent on enslaving the human race.