“Death to Israel” in Salt Lake City
The Salt Lake Tribune headlines this piece about a disturbing request for a demonstration permit: Protest permit alarms Utah’s Jews. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)
But it isn’t only Utah’s Jewish community who should be alarmed.
Members of Utah’s Jewish community are alarmed by a proposed demonstration that will call for “Death to Israel.”
A man - whose name wasn’t available Thursday - has applied for a free-speech permit from Salt Lake City to demonstrate on sidewalks near City Hall on Wednesday. The city is reviewing the application. City officials cannot constitutionally deny it based on the content of the message.
Laura Green, director of the United Jewish Federation of Utah, said Thursday that she has received dozens of calls about the planned demonstration. Many fear the rally could incite violence against Jews. “Based on freedom of speech, people have the right to say what they want to say. There has to be a line between saying what you want to say and preaching the genocide of a population,” Green said.
She hopes the city denies the permit, saying the police will be busy enough with the other five demonstrations planned for Wednesday to coincide with President Bush’s visit to Utah.