Friday, November 16, 2007

City Commisars


When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)
Another Version:
When they came for the Jews and the blacks, I turned away
When they came for the writers and the thinkers and the radicals and the protesters, I turned away
When they came for the gays, and the minorities, and the utopians, and the dancers, I turned away
And when they came for me, I turned around and around, and there was nobody left...


5 comments:

  1. here's what i learned from reading your website;

    1) you are a brilliant constitutional scholar (also known as "a jailhouse lawyer");

    2) Anyone who disagrees is evil, an idiot, or both; and

    3) Any day now, artists will be rounded up and sent to the gulag.

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  2. Karl, the system that allowed artists downtown was working fine. You decided to push the limits and look what you did for us. Now we're banned, and guess what? The courts agree, they can do that. As, long as they don't outlaw us all in the entire city they are completely within power to do so. Thanks alot.

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  3. Bren
    Thank you for the compliment. I am just a working artist who sells art in public space. I believe that artists and citizens alike should know their legal rights.Disagreement is healthy. Education of the facts may put a different light upon your opinion.

    Have you been following this?...there have been arrests and jailings. The hancuffs were real ,the ankle cuffs were real as was the belly chain. Have you ever been jailed for doing something that you feel that you have a right to do? The judge agreed with us on the part that jailed me and dismissed the charges. What about my 2 days in jail? The art was confiscated for six months! This issue is not about four artists who want to sell their art. Please look at the bigger picture.


    Ancient Art (Karl has forwarded your note to me)
    Yes, If the system was working fine and the City of St. Augustine complied with Federal Law (County Judges aside)we would not have problems.The Federal Courts DO NOT agree with the City of St. Augustine (Bery Vs New York City and recent decisions in other districts)You can plead the city's case or you can learn the facts.As an artist or art seller it is important to know your rights and not blindly accept what the city "servants" put forth.

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  4. 1)Suvo is one of the "good guys" and if you met him you would agree. He is not doing this for personal gain. I know him from the old days in NYC (before the white mane) and his motives are pure.

    2.) He would NEVER agree with that remark about anyone.

    3.)This is more serious than you think. I live in a large city whose administration. was forced to recognize the constitutional rights of visual artists. Stop the chilling effect before it grows as it will with apathy and disregard.Beware of Rudy Guiliani

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  5. Hi Greg,I'm back in New England,Sorry I couldn't say by,bit of a hurry. I see the city's put the nix on everything good and creative.Why don't they be true to their coruption and ask for their palms greased and be done with it?
    I watched an artist happily painting by symphony hall in Boston last week without the fear of the pleasure police stunning him to submission, but this is the civilized part of the east coast.
    Good luck Greg happy thanksgiving !
    talk to you soon.
    Rick

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