I am writing to you to demand that you lift the censorship ban on MI Representatives Lisa Brown and Barb Byrum immediately and issue a formal and public apology to these courageous women legislators. While their speeches were impassioned, they did not in any way "disrupt the decorum of the House," as alleged by Ari Adler, spokesperson for House Majority Leader Jase Bolger. To allege that the women "had a temper tantrum on the House floor" is disrespectful, belittling, and patronizing.
Free speech is a fundamental right enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. I am deeply disappointed that these fine women would be censored for what they said on the House Floor during Wednesday's debates.
Why is this important?
Free speech is a fundamental right enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
On June 13th during a debate of House Bill 5711on the floor of the Michigan House, Representatives Lisa Brown and Barbara Byrum used the words vagina and vasectomy in their eloquent and courageous speeches. Apparently, these medically-correct terms are shocking to the Republicans who control all three branches of the Michigan government.
As a result, Speaker of the House Jase Bolger along with Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas have stripped these eminent legislators of their first amendment rights to free speech. No reason for their censure was given other than decorum must be maintained. No length of time for this punishment was provided.
We demand that the censorship of Representatives Lisa Brown and Barbara Byrum be lifted immediately and that Speaker of the House Jase Bolger and Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas issue a public apology to these outstanding and courageous women.
