Access Quote by Richard Posner
“It is the censor's business to make a judgment about the propriety of the content or message of the proposed expressive activity. The regulation here does not authorize any judgment about the content of any speeches. ... A park is a limited space, and to allow unregulated access to all comers could easily reduce rather than enlarge the park's utility as a forum for speech. Just imagine two rallies held at the same time in the same park area using public-address systems that drowned out each other's speakers.”
About This Quote
Source Article: "Free Speech and the Public Forum", 1999, Harvard Law Review
Regulating speech in public spaces should focus on procedural fairness, not content judgment, to preserve open discourse.
In simple terms: Regulate speech by rules, not ideas.
Key Takeaway
Ensure fair access to public forums.
Themes
free speech
public policy
regulation
fairness
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
legal
policy
When to use this quote
- city park events
- public demonstrations
- community meetings
Key Concepts
constitutional law
public forum doctrine
speech rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance order with free expression?
- What safeguards prevent abuse of procedural rules?
A Different Perspective
Overly strict rules may stifle legitimate expression.
![“To be clear, Goodreads staff have not been deleting any posts. A value we've always had here is that we don't censor content (unless it's against our policies - eg porn, etc). [April 1, 2013]” quote by Otis Y. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/180/otis-y-chandler-100396_censor_to-be-clear-goodreads-staff-have-not-bee_210311.jpg)
