Someone call the newspapers, the Constitutional Rights are officially dead(Book-A-Million Alert)

myself ^ | 23 April 2004 | trueblackman

[Trueblackman]

I just got off the phone with the BAM's Brendon Aaron with my complaint of being banned from the Dupont Circle's Books-A-Million for no reason other than talking to Freepers during a Hillary Clinton Book Signing.

The guy was nothing more than a snob and the phone call was nothing more than a waste of time.

Books-A-Million feels that they can violate a person's Constitutional Rights by banning them from a store because you happen to have a different political opinion than the person who is signing a book.

No I don't agree with Ms. Clinton, but she did treat me with respect both time I went thru the line and even was nice enough to say hello to my girlfriend and for this time my beef is not with her, but with the stuffy staff members and store managers of Books-A-Million.

In closing with Mr. Aaron I reminded him that as a veteran that I have been to countries were you are not even allowed to buy books or protest on the sidewalk.

He claimed that someone from the district office will be getting in touch with me soon.

[Trueblackman]

Red Books-A-Million Alert

[marlon]

Hey protest all you want boycott whatever but remember, they are a private business and don't have to serve you.

That said they still suck!

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

Gotta love those 'tolerant' liberals, huh?

[So Cal Rocket]

There's no "Constitutional Rights" issue here... B-A-Million is a private enterprise and may choose not to do business with anyone.

That's not to say what they did was morally right... but they are within their legal right to do so - just as it is your legal right to organize a boycott of the store.

[Trueblackman]

Believe me they will not like the protest I have in mind.

[Ancesthntr]

Sorry to tell you, but the Constitution and the BOR deal with the government's powers and restrictions thereon. The 1st Amendment only prohibits the government from restricting your right to free speech (well, it did until this year, now the SC says that it doesn't protect political speech within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election.) Books-A-Million may be a scumbag outfit, but no constitutional provison stops them from doing what they did.

[ChevyZ28]

Remember, these are elitest you are dealing with. I am telling you, these people have their noses stuck so far up in the air they would drown in a hard rain.

[Trueblackman]

So you are saying because I spoke to someone who disagree with Ms. Clinton then they have the right to ban me from their store, well then they would have had to ban 1/2 the people in line who walked pasted and spoke to the DC Chapter pro and con.

[Bahbah]

"...they will not like the protest I have in mind."

Heh heh. Good for you.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Hey, all you have to do is say the word (racism) and the media will come running. That is until they learn that you aren't a DemocRat.

[Cicero]

I sympathize but I agree that no one has the right to protest on private property. You can always use the sidewalk in front, although even for that you may need a permit depending on numbers and circumstances.

[Trueblackman]

Well the protest was on the public sidewalk and who I talk to after walking out of the store is my business and not that of store management.

[TaxRelief]

Let's start with Freepers from all areas calling national headquarters. Have you got a link address? Or main number of HQ?

I can tell you one thing: Books-A-Million will not be seeing me or my money any time soon.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Corporate Office
Books-A-Million, Inc.
402 Industrial Lane
Birmingham, Alabama 35211
(205) 942-3737

Mailing Address
Books-A-Million, Inc.
P.O. Box 19768
Birmingham, AL 35219

support@booksamillion.com

[Peach]

I'd hire a lawyer. They can't ban you from a store because you were talking with people of a different political view than the person signing books.

Even though the store won't admit it, it's probably the Hitlery police behind this.

[P-Marlowe]

I sympathize but I agree that no one has the right to protest on private property.

There are a number of Civil Rights cases that extend constitutional free speech protections to people who are on private property that is otherwise open to the public. That is why you can't get rid of the beggars and petitioners in front of Wal Mart.

I am certain that there are additional statutes that require businesses that are open to the public at large from preventing people from coming into their store based on a number of criteria. That is why restauants are precluded from asking smelly people to eat somewhere else. I would imagine the same protections that allow smelly people to inhabit restaurant booths for hours at a time would equally apply to require that book stores not turn away customers on the basis of their perceived political views.

TBM, for a mere $350 per hour, I would be more than happy to assist you in your legal endeavors. Freep mail me if you are interested ;-)

[NewRomeTacitus]

Here's the link to the DC Chapter's Freep at the store:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1122212/posts

You all did a magnificent job and what they're attempting flies in the face of capitalism and reeks of fascism. Unfortunately, most laws allow commercial establishments to deal with whom they choose to, just or not.

Freep on, big guy!

[tahiti]

"TBM, for a mere $350 per hour, I would be more than happy to assist you in your legal endeavors."

I hope you are being facitious.

But just in case you are not, why do you wish to advocate and defend, for money, blatantly socialist, judicial dictum and legislation that is unambigously violating constitutionally protected private property rights?

When and how did private property, bookstores and restaurants, become public property?

Since the venue of this private property "dispute" is Washington, DC, the federal constitution has exlusive jurisdiction within its boundaries.

With that being said, at minimum, the 9th amendment is applicable to protect the property rights of the bookstore owners as well as their right to discriminate against those individuals they wish not to be on their private property for whatever reason.

[xzins]

PM, it seems to me that there is a level of public accomodation that's required when one opens a public business.

I'm not sure I want to be a restauranteur.....wonder how you do market research on the smelliness of people in any given area? :>)

[P-Marlowe]

I hope you are being facitious. But just in case you are not, why do you wish to advocate and defend, for money, blatantly socialist, judicial dictum and legislation that is unambigously violating constitutionally protected private property rights?

I didn't say I agreed with the decisions, I just noted that there are a number of Civil Rights decisions which limit the ability of a private property owner to refuse service or to otherwise deny access to his property to certain groups of people if it is otherwise open to the public at large.

And if TBM wants to pay me $350 per hour, I will make ANY argument he wants to make.

Every man has his price. My price is $350 per hour. :-)