More on goons and thugs running Chicago
From Eugene Volokh:
Chicago Alderman: I Will Deny Business Permit Because “There Are Consequences for [Its Owner's] Statements and Beliefs,” and They Should Include Denial
This is just appalling. A government official thinks that the proper
“consequence” for a business owner’s “statements and beliefs” is the
denial of the ability to do business. Because he’s “sure the majority
of” his constituents find the owner’s “comments and attitudes
repugnant,” it’s just fine for him to use the coercive power of the
government to block the business from opening up a store. His “belief in
equality is resolute,” and that apparently justifies him discriminating
against businesspeople for exercising their First Amendment rights to
speak out. They “should really reconsider [their] platform on gay
issues,” or else the government of Chicago will exclude them from the
alderman’s ward.
As I noted before,
such a viewpoint-based denial of a business permit is a blatant
violation of the First Amendment. But that doesn’t seem to bother
Alderman Moreno, because his “principles” seem to demand this sort of
unconstitutional behavior. As I said, just appalling.