Albany Paper Backs Free Speech Claim in Controversial Game Lawsuit

June 14, 2009

In an editorial published this morning the Albany Times-Union offers support for a federal lawsuit filed last week against the city of Troy, New York and its public works commissioner, Robert Mirch (left).

GamePolitics readers will recall that in 2008 inspectors invoked the city's building code to shut down an art gallery which was displaying Virtual Jihadi, Iraqi artist Wafaa Bilal's controversial computer game exhibit. From today's Times-Union editorial:

What constitutes free and protected speech in Troy, and what constitutes public safety and unacceptable building code violations, aren't merely matters of fiat. They aren't simply up to the whims of Robert Mirch. They shouldn't be, at least...

The public works commissioner, not to mention the majority leader of the Rensselaer County Legislature, had effectively appointed himself arbiter of public morals...

Mr. Mirch, meanwhile, seems to have a new beef with the media... He's bothered that the lawsuit, which after all is a public document, has made it into the hands of the media. Let's hope he doesn't try to use the building code to further retaliate...

Free speech and the building code should be kept separate.

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Comments

Re: Albany Paper Backs Free Speech Claim in Controversial ...

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Sun, 06/14/2009 - 18:07.

The reason why doors aren't supposed to swing inwards is because, if there is a fire, it is harder to open the doors. If they swing outwards, you can open the doors while exiting the building. If they swing inwards, you need to stop, back up as the door opens, and then exit. If there is a large crowd, people could get trampled, or even trapped in the building.

Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.

--- With the first link, the chain is forged.

Re: Albany Paper Backs Free Speech Claim in Controversial ...

Submitted by killatia on Sun, 06/14/2009 - 12:14.

It'll be a win for free speech this time around. And no stinking building codes gonna stop that from happ..... *court house shut down due to broken door* Dammit Mr. Mirc. (fyi that was a joke.)

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: Albany Paper Backs Free Speech Claim in Controversial ...

Submitted by Chaplain99 on Sun, 06/14/2009 - 11:52.

I can see Mr. Mirch losing this case, but only because he'd base his case on his actions, not the game itself. That'd be a last resort.

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