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Tuesday, Mar 13, 2012 8:09 PM UTC

Occupy Cincinnati’s modest victory

A legal settlement to secure a small place to protest illuminates the sorry state of freedom in Ohio

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Topics: Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Cincinnati, ,

Occupy Cincinnati's modest victoryOccupy protesters begin a march through downtown Cincinnati last October. (Credit: AP/David Kohl)

“The important part is that this will be an area where people can express themselves 24 hours a day,” said Aaron Roco of Occupy Cincinnati on Monday, speaking on the steps of Cincinnati’s City Hall.

Roco was referring to the spoils from a settlement reached between Occupiers and the city of Cincinatti. In return for Occupy Cincinnati supporters dropping a federal law suit against it, the city dismissed around 300 charges involving approximately 100 protesters. The occupiers also won a 24-hour public space — a small patch of Piatt Park — but will not be able to set up tents in the area.

The Occupy supporters, who had filed a lawsuit claiming the city had violated their First Amendment rights, called the settlement a victory for constitutional rights. The city solicitor said “the case allowed both sides to clarify and understand the limits to First Amendment expression in Cincinnati’s parks,” according to the Coshocton Tribune.

And I suppose it’s true — there’s victory in having 300 charges dismissed and successfully standing up for freedom of speech and assembly. But when this freedom’s physical manifestation is a small part of a park, which won’t close but can’t be camped on, it doesn’t seem all that free to me — or about as free as our Orwellian Free Speech Zones. Roco is right: having an area where people can express themselves at all times is important. All areas should be this way. That this area had to be won in a legal settlement just illustrates, as the city solicitor inadvertently pointed out, the real limits of our freedom to speak and assemble.

Natasha Lennard

Natasha Lennard is an assistant news editor at Salon, covering non-electoral politics, general news and rabble-rousing. Follow her on Twitter @natashalennard, email nlennard@salon.com. More Natasha Lennard.

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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