Promoting violence, vandalism not free speech

Sandi Doughton’s article raises serious questions [“Speakers decry Metro decision to ban ad on buses,” NW Saturday, Dec. 25]. Promoting hate speech that could incite violence, vandalism and disruption of bus service is not “free speech.”

Anti-Israel messages have been known to inflame and lead to hate crimes against Jews and others, such as the Naveed Haq shooting at the Jewish Federation in July 2006.

Dow Constantine and Metro management are to be commended for doing the right thing for canceling the inflammatory and one-sided ads that should not have been initially approved under current Metro policies.

Israel has always embraced the sacredness of human life, while the Palestinians have not. Until there is a positive change of the culture of hatred, violence and death by Palestinians, Israel must remain militarily strong. Israel’s self-defensive measures against hundreds of rocket attacks launched indiscriminately from the Gaza Strip against its citizens is not a “war crime.”

— Josh Basson, Seattle

Constantine violated free-speech rights, plain and simple

Dow Constantine has broken the law by violating the First Amendment rights of free speech by reneging on the contract to have Metro buses display placards that tell the truth about Israel’s war crimes.

Under the Washington state constitution, any citizen of King County who is at least 18 years of age has standing to commence a recall action against him. I urge any so situated individual to do so.

If the guidelines for noncommercial ads change, that is one thing, but to change them after Metro has entered into a contract is both a breach of contract and a violation of First Amendment rights and subject to all applicable civil and criminal remedies.

— Mark Bennett, Bonney Lake