web1_Oleksy.jpg

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ready to renew rivalry against Hershey Bears

web1_TTL042416NEPAMiabella2.jpg

Mia Bella candles, manufactured in Wilkes-Barre, offer fragrances all over the world

<p>An attempt to confine circus protesters to a barricaded area at the Mohegan Sun Arena recently failed, resulting in a First Amendment victory rich in both symbolism and irony.</p><p>How odd that the arena&#8217;s overseers tried to restrict animal rights advocates to what amounted to a pen.</p><p>And how strangely disappointing that the Luzerne County Convention Center Authority &#8211; the public body that sets policy for the Wilkes-Barre Township entertainment venue &#8211; doesn&#8217;t have in place better and more liberal rules regarding peaceful demonstrations.</p><p>No one denies the arena&#8217;s management team, led by West Conshohocken-based SMG, must do its best to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors to concerts, hockey games and other activities, including political functions. Traffic, for instance, must flow freely into and out of the expansive parking lots, so as not to create a roadway danger. Patrons shouldn&#8217;t become the target of harassment.</p><p>That said, if you want to freely assemble and speak your mind &#8211; or hand out fliers denouncing the use of animals in a circus &#8211; it seems few area buildings, except for perhaps the county courthouse and municipal city halls, are more suitable. The arena draws a sizable crowd. Plus, the place relies in no small part on public money: a hotel tax pays for debt related to the building&#8217;s construction, a six-figure federal grant made possible some parking lot paving, a six-figure state grant will pay for acoustic panels.</p><p>The Convention Center Authority accepts the people&#8217;s money for the facility, so it better be willing to let people demonstrate there. Loudly at times.</p><p>Activists had argued in advance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum &amp; Bailey&#8217;s CircusXtreme multi-day appearance last weekend that their ability to demonstrate would be &#8220;severely and unlawfully&#8221; limited by the arena&#8217;s policies, which forbid the use of &#8220;offensive banners&#8221; and &#8220;artificial voice amplification.&#8221; A federal judge on Wednesday granted approval for a certain number of activists to go beyond the arena&#8217;s metal barricades, distributing leaflets while mingling with patrons on the sidewalks.</p><p>The show, and democracy, went on without a hitch, according to all reports.</p><p>The Convention Center Authority&#8217;s members would be wise to reconsider and redraft the rules on public demonstrations, particularly in anticipation of a wild-and-woolly presidential campaign season prior to this November&#8217;s election. No doubt, either the Democratic or Republican nominee, or both, will venture to this area and require a high-profile spot from which to do his or her politicking.</p><p>In short, the arena has not seen its last circus.</p><p>And, yes, we can freely say that, just as we dare compare the candidates to clowns or elephants or most anything we want. The First Amendment makes it possible.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_circusEditorial.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Convention Center Authority&#8217;s members would be wise to reconsider and redraft the rules on public demonstrations, particularly in anticipation of a wild-and-woolly presidential campaign season. &#8230; </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_circusEditorial.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Convention Center Authority&#8217;s members would be wise to reconsider and redraft the rules on public demonstrations, particularly in anticipation of a wild-and-woolly presidential campaign season. &#8230; </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>

Our Opinion: Make room for dissent at Mohegan Sun Arena