President of the Rutherford Institute, John Whitehead, wrote a letter to Congressman Tom Perriello asking him to relocate his local office to an area that is conducive to the First Amendment right of freedom of expression.
In the letter, Whitehead says the he was approached by members of the Jefferson Tea Party and the UVA College Republicans who have been told they would be trespassing if they “dare[d] to demonstrate on political issues while in the parking lot to [Perriello’s] office:” i.e.: disturbing the property owners at the Glass Building, where Perriello’s office is located, on 2nd Street SE.
Earlier in the year, residents of both political affiliations demonstrated either their support or their opposition to Perriello’s vote for health care reform.
Whitehead argues that although the interests of private property owners need to be protected, “unfortunately, it is your choice of office location that has hindered the ability of citizens to effectively communicate concerning issues of the utmost importance to you, Congress and the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States.”
