| Libertarian Party of NY -- Press Release -- Libertarians Charge Bullying Bureaucrats Skate On Thin Ice |
LIBERTARIANS CHARGE BULLYING BUREAUCRATS SKATE ON THIN ICE
Bellport, NY 7/20/06: The Libertarian Party stands behind the owners of a skating rink that narrowly missed being a target of the bureaucrats of the State of New York’s Division of Human Rights. What was the great crime of the owners of Skate Time 209 on Route 209 in Accord, New York (Ulster County)? They advertised that they would have on Sunday night “Christian skate time” while playing contemporary Christian music. The owners, Len and Terry Bernardo, received a letter claiming that such a program would violate the Human Rights Law as discriminatory. Fortunately, the Bernardos have been informed that the case has been dropped.
State Chair Richard Cooper of Westbury charges that “Our bullying bureaucrats do not respect freedom of religion or private property rights. These legalized bullies actually sent a letter to the Ulster County Press warning them that running the Skate Time ad could subject them to sanction. So, the newspaper’s free speech rights and right to operate their business would be interfered with as well. Libertarians say that a business owner has the right to have a Christian night, a gay day or anything else they want. Let the market decide. The power of government must be reduced in New York.”
Libertarian gubernatorial candidate John Clifton of Jamaica likens the case of Skate Time 209 to the eminent domain case which saw seizure of the building being renovated by St. Luke’s Pentecostal Church in New Cassel, Long Island. Clifton, Cooper and the Libertarian Party championed the church’s property rights. While unable to achieve full justice for the church, the Libertarians helped bring about a better compensation for them. Clifton is emphasizing property rights and eminent domain as main issues in his campaign. –30-
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