Editing Inner Harbor (section)

==Free speech==
[[File:Pedestal base of Christopher Columbus statue 2.jpeg|thumb|Only the pedestal base of the Christopher Columbus statue remains in Inner Harbor; on July 4, 2020, the statue was thrown into the harbor as part of the [[George Floyd protests]].]]
As a central and busy part of Baltimore, the Inner Harbor has been the site of much political and artistic activity. The city is involved in ongoing disputes over [[free speech]] in the area. One early conflict concerned marchers for gay rights, whose permit was revoked by the city. (The city announced that only five or fewer people could march, and that they could not carry signs.)<ref name=Gunther21Sept84>{{cite news|last=Gunther|first=Katie|title=City rescinds gay-rights march permit at harbor|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=21 September 1984|location=Proquest|id={{ProQuest|536612295}}}}</ref>

[[The Rouse Company]], which began operating [[Harborplace]] in 1980, has long been in conflict with street performers. The company regulates performances, and has often been accused of suppressing free speech.<ref name=CP02 /> These disputes came to a head in 2002–2003, when two events triggered a lawsuit against the city.

===ACLU lawsuit===
On October 21, 2002, street performer Jerry Rowan was banned from the area for making an "insensitive" joke. Discussing the then-current [[Beltway sniper attacks|D.C. sniper]] case, Rowan said: "I was driving downtown this morning, and on the radio I heard that they've finally come out with a composite of the sniper, so there should be an arrest forthcoming. Apparently, he's a white guy that speaks Spanish and looks like he's Arab."<ref name=CP02>{{cite news|last=Ditkoff|first=Anna|title=Send Out the Clowns|url=http://www2.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=4730|access-date=13 July 2012|newspaper=Baltimore CityPaper|date=6 November 2002}}</ref> Police officers overheard the joke and reported it to Rouse. The company had previously sent a letter to Rowan admonishing him for "off-color humor", as well as "lack of respect for program administrators". After this report, the company banned him from the area.<ref name=CP02 />

On April 4, 2003, a police officer asked Baltimore's Women in Black to disband.<ref name=Wilson8Oct03>{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Kimberly A.C.|title=First Amendment lawsuit against the city expanded|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2003/10/08/first-amendment-lawsuit-against-the-city-expanded/|access-date=18 July 2012|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=8 October 2003}}</ref> The group had (and has) gathered in [[McKeldin Square]] every Friday since September 11, 2002.

Rowan and the Women in Black filed suit against the city of Baltimore on October 7, 2003, arguing their right of free speech. They were assisted by attorney Rajeev Goyle on behalf of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]].<ref name=Wilson8Oct03 />

The lawsuit was resolved in 2013 in a settlement that resulted in a [[consent decree]] with the city, creating "instant permits" for spontaneous demonstrations and waived permit requirements for groups of 30 people or less. The negotiations with the ACLU, the city, The Rouse Company, and The Waterfront Partnership in the settlement yielded other specific results in favor of free speech activities. [[McKeldin Square]], Rash Field, Kaufman Pavilion, the area West of the Visitor Center, and Area 10 were all designated as official free-speech zones.  Additionally, the settlement required the City of Baltimore to pay the attorney's fees for the ACLU.<ref>{{cite web |title=Free Speech Rights Significantly Expanded in Baltimore's Inner Harbor |url=https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/free-speech-rights-significantly-expanded-baltimores-inner-harbor |website=American Civil Liberties Union |access-date=10 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Elsewhere, police enforce rules against protest. On May 21, 2011, teacher Bruce Friedrich was threatened with arrest while handing out animal rights pamphlets.<ref name=Hermann27May11>{{cite news|last=Hermann|first=Peter|title=Baltimore police tell teacher to stop leafleting at Inner Harbor|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2011/05/27/baltimore-police-tell-teacher-to-stop-leafleting-at-inner-harbor/|access-date=18 July 2012|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=27 May 2011}}</ref> On September 18, 2011, police arrested artist Mark Chase for selling his paintings "in or near" the Inner Harbor amphitheater. "Your constitutional rights have nothing to do with the law," said the arresting officer when Chase objected on [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] grounds.<ref name=Hermann19Sept12>{{cite news|last=Hermann|first=Peter|title=Arrest at Inner Harbor renews free speech debate|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2011/09/19/arrest-at-inner-harbor-renews-free-speech-debate/|access-date=18 July 2012|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=19 September 2012}}</ref>