Posted on: Thursday, October 30, 2003

EDITORIAL
Stryker meetings must be open to free speech

Like it or not, public meetings come with all the privileges of free speech, which include protest signs.

So when you open a meeting to the public, even on private property, the First Amendment should come into play.

As far as we can tell, that didn't exactly happen Tuesday night when the Army held the first of six public meetings to discuss the planned $1.5 billion Stryker Brigade for Hawai'i.

Four protesters were arrested at the meeting at the Honolulu Country Club for bringing signs onto private property. They were charged with criminal trespassing, posted $250 bail and were released pending a court hearing.

Security guards hired by the Army said the protesters were welcome to attend the meeting, just not with signs.

The Hawai'i chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says the protesters were well within their First Amendment rights. Besides, the Army wielded its own equivalent of signs, such as charts, photographs and maps.

This issue of how the rules apply to public meetings on private property is not about to go away. All six of the meetings on the Stryker Brigade environmental impact statement are being held on private property.

The Army says it has more flexibility at these venues than in public buildings, and that may be so. But if this First Amendment conflict continues, we suggest it move the meetings to public school cafeterias, auditoriums, gymnasiums and other venues where the rules are clearer.

The move of a Stryker Brigade to Hawai'i will have major economic and social consequences. Discussion of a matter of this importance should not be sidetracked with controversies such as this.