Free Speech: The Hallmark of the American Experiment

By Salvatore Pizzuro

On Saturday, January 19, 2008, former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan was arrested just minutes before Gov. Jon Corzine was to begin a public town meeting to promote his highway toll increase plan. The Mayor was handing out literature critical of the Governor’s plan outside the Middle Township High School in Cape May County, along with radio personality Seth Grossman. Local police confronted him, demanding that he cease distributing his material. Eventually, Mayor Lonegan and Grossman were handcuffed and taken to police headquarters.

As a liberal Democrat, I have gone on record in the past, disagreeing with the conservative Republican Lonegan on a variety of issues. However, I agreed with the former Mayor’s position on the need for more openness and honesty in Government. I must also agree with his premise that he has a right to criticize those in Government whose plans for the future Lonegan does not endorse.

I have also taken the public position that we must give Governor Corzine the opportunity to resolve the unprecedented fiscal crisis that New Jersey now faces. Corzine gave up a safe U.S. Senate seat to run for governor in order to solve problems that were created long before he came onto the public political scene. No one has offered plausible alternatives to Corzine’s plan. I also believe that Lonegan’s actions stem more from his political ambitions than his mission of public service. Nevertheless, free speech is the hallmark of a free society. The founding fathers knew that without free speech there was no hope of creating a truly free society in which everyone can play a role, without fear of reprisal from those more powerful.

Some (in fact many) may disagree with Lonegan. However, he has a right to be heard. What took place outside the Middle Township High School in Cape May County is a threat to the fundamental rights of all Americans. If history has taught us nothing else, it has taught us that either everyone has rights or no one has rights. We don’t have to agree with Steve Lonegan, but is our responsibility to fight for his right to present his position to the public.