OUR VIEW: Main Street Plaza is private property

There soon may be a Supreme Court case over a few acres of grass, flowers, sidewalks and reflecting pools adjacent to Temple Square.

According to the 10th Circuit Court, the land, which is privately owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a traditional sidewalk and considered public space.

The land was purchased for $8.1 million in 1999 with the idea to make it free from protestors and vulgarity.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, free speech cannot be hindered in this traditional space.

But private property rights should prevail. If someone enters a home or stands in a yard chanting about how one is “going to burn in Hell,” his free speech will be hindered right after police officers haul him away. The Salt Lake City issue is no different. Private property is private property.

The court talked about traditional spaces. Who was on this continent first? Traditionally this land belonged to Native Americans. But they were put on reservations their land was taken.

The Main Street Plaza is a place people go to escape city sounds. That includes protestors’ voices.

In reality, this country was founded on escaping religious persecution. The same First Amendment that gave freedom of religion gives people a voice to offer those same persecutions.

The Main Street Plaza should be more clearly defined as private property. A perpetually open gate with the park’s rules clearly defined would serve that purpose.

Either way, the land is private and others should respect the wishes of the property owners.