Gov. Mead Wants To Get The 1st Amendment Right THIS Time!

CHEYENNE, WY – (WyWatch) On Saturday, April 14th Chairman Becky Vandeberghe, from WyWatch was approached by Governor Matt Mead at the WY State GOP Convention not once, but twice to discuss the current State Building Commission policy http://www.wywatch.org/sites/default/files/SBC_Capitol_Policy.pdf that closed the Herschler Gallery to all public displays as well as closed the interior capitol building to demonstrations or “like activities” in order to assure us that he and the other Republican elected officials want to “get it right.”

Although the Governor said he did not know about the removal of the pro-life banners until well after the fact, citizens of Wyoming called and e-mailed his office in February of 2011 to ask him to put the pro-life banners back in the Herschler Gallery. Chairman Vandeberghe reminded him of  the people’s efforts as well as the fact that WyWatch left the signs on the loading dock for three full days waiting for the Governor’s office to “get it right” then.
The WyWatch Board of Directors are sure that the widespread news coverage of the recent lawsuit settlement between WyWatch and the SBC Board has been an embarrassment for these reasons:
1. Several elected officials in the state legislature have publicly spoken against the newly implemented policy passed on January 18th, 2012.
2. At the State GOP Convention held this past weekend the delegates passed a plank in the 2012 Platform with overwhelming approval stating:
“The Wyoming Republican Party opposes the state policy, which classifies public prayer in a state building as a demonstration that requires a permit.”
There are those in Wyoming who are confident that these facts will be instrumental in convincing the Governor and other SBC members to do just that…”get it right.”

 

Chairman Vandeberghe made it very clear during her conversation with the Governor on Saturday that the current policy is unacceptable to the citizens of Wyoming. She pointed out that this new policy is a clear infringement of the 1st Amendment. Citizens of Wyoming have the right to enjoy Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, and the Right to Peaceably Assemble in public, especially in a building that is owned by the people of this great state.
Chairman Vandeberghe also made it very clear that we would be at the SBC meeting on April 18th at 8:00 AM to discuss this policy.
Governor Mead then informed us that his staff is working on revisions to the policy that was passed in January, 2012 and promised us an advance copy to provide to our attorneys for review. An e-mail reminder of that promise went to the Governor’s office  this morning .
Now is the time to show Governor Mead and the State Building Commission that citizens across the state are serious when protecting our Constitutional Freedoms.

 

 

If you are able, please attend the meeting on Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 at 8:00 AM in the basement of the Herschler building in room B63 and stand for FREEDOM in Wyoming.
Let’s make sure the Governor and the other elected officials who serve on the SBC “get it right” this time and allow Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, and the Right to Peaceably Assemble in the great state of Wyoming.