No leafleting here
national |
miscellaneous |
news report 
Friday December 06, 2002 01:00
by banned at the blanch Center
Blanchardstown Shopping center refused today to allow the handing out of leaflets advertising the December 7th march in dublin. When asked the Centers managment produced its rule book and pointed out that not even retailers were allowed to leaflet in or on the Centers Grounds. The managment also said it did not allow any political postering during election time, A member of the public remarked, "I understand the desire not to be connected to the present political system,but refusing to allow anti-war leafleting seems amoral at the least".
Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7If they won't let you in to leaflet, maybe try the gate outside or traffic lights nearby.
This is not surprising. It is just part of the ongoing santization of public places. Shopping centers
have effectively privatized the public space, in the way permission to enter can be controlled, and of
course the removal of the basic right of free-speech. If you look at any shopping center you will also
notice that the number of public places to seat down for free are very few, while the vast majority of
places to seat down or commercial, i.e. cafes, bars and restaurants where you are compelled to buy something.
This denial of free speech by disallowing the leaflets to be handed out is very likely unconstitutional,
but don't expect the system to actually defend. It will in the long run always come down in favour of
private property and enterprise. In exceptional circumstances it may rule in your favour, but those types
of judges are not likely to be many or to go very far in the system.
If they won't let you in to leaflet, maybe try the gate outside or traffic lights nearby. But what do you
know, you will probably be told that it is a danger to traffic. You must admit the control of the
dissemination of information, other than that sanctioned by those with real power (Big Businesss/Media
and State) is very effective. Everytime we try to get our viewpoint out, new rules are made to block our
access and simultaneously have the effect of trying to criminalize those making such efforts since they are
deemed to be breaking the law.
Is that Dunnes Stores? I don't know the shopping centre. Dunnes everywhere refuse leafleting or make up arbitrary lines you 'can't cross'. They always good for arguments and threats to call the guards.
The Square in Tallaght also bans leafletting on its grounds - I think its standard for shopping centres. But they can't stop you going around the car park putting leaflets under windscreen wipers...
SY had a similar problem in Blanch Shopping centre during the election. They allowed parties to speak to people, but not allowed give out leaflets. This is favourable to the large parties who rush in their party 'leaders' and their hacks to speak to the common folk in shopping centres. Small parties and other campigns are not like this.
With this ban Blanch shopping centre is taking a political position, ie not allowing politics!
It seems to me that the SP could have saved you a lot of time trapsing across the city. One SP member said they new nothing of any leafleting organised for blanch shopping centre - Blanch Shoping centre has never allowed any political activities
I would say, the first thing you do when you are a broad democratic movement (IAWM) is to contact those groups who know what the story is - obviously I was wrong - what do the SP know about Blanch shopping centre.
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