From: Richard Isaac <rmissac@eskimo.com>
Date: Sun, Jun 19, 1994 3:03PM
Subject: BIGOT BUSTERS WINS!: the details

Bigot Busters/Decline to Sign (King Co.) has WON in its battle with 
Southcenter Mall (Tukwila, WA) in regards to the dispute over whether Bigot 
Busters would be allowed to be in the mall and discuss Initiatives 608 and 
610 with mall customers.

                                *****

Background:  As you may recall, two Bigot Buster (BB) teams were each 
expelled from Southcenter Mall in Tukwila, WA last Sat., June 11, 1994; one 
for passing out literature; the other for talking to mall customers who 
appeared to express an interes in signing Initiative 608 which had a table 
in the mall (as is allowed by the law).  BB was not successful at the time 
in convincing mall authorities that we had a right to be there.  BB 
expressed its intentions at the time to return time and again and to take 
the matter to a higher level if it could not be resolved at the time.

                                *****

Follow up:  During the week that followed, Southcenter Mall repeatedly and 
consistently refused to meet with BB to discuss the matter.  As a result, 
legal avenues were pursued and discussions commenced between BB lawyers and 
those for Southcenter.  Simultaneously,  BB was in frequent contact with 
Tukwila Police.  Also, there was apparently a flood of phone calls from 
interested parties and concerned citizens to Southcenter Mall authorities, 
Tukwila Police, and the Tukwila Mayor.  Although the Mall never agreed to a 
meeting and never agreed to change its policies, the Tukwila Police decided, 
and informed BB, that it would NOT enforce Mall rules in the matter, as long 
as BB was not misbehaving towards mall customers (never our intention).

This was put to a test on Friday, June 17, when BB returned to the Mall and 
recommenced its activities.  Init. 608 was collecting signatures in the Mall 
again (though it should be noted that the 608 table was in a much less 
favorable site, was missing its bright yellow "608" sign, and was surrounded 
by three, as opposed to last week's one, mall disclaimer signs).  Mall 
scurity was called to have BB expelled.  Tukwila police were also eventually 
called to enforce mall policy.  When one BB was asked to leave, he 
responded:

"Are you asking me to leave or are you telling me?"
"I'm asking you."
"In that case, I respectfully decline."

With that exchange, the Bigot Busters won the Battle of Southcenter Mall.

                                *****

Epilogue:  Init 608 supporters packed up early (6 pm, instead of 9:30 pm) on 
Friday, June 17, and were nowhere in sight all day Sat, June 18, though they 
were scheduled to be there.  BB maintained surveillance on the mall 
throughout the day (a very busy pre-Father's Day), and had friendly exhanges 
with mall security (including both stern officers from the week before). 
 All parties were aware that BB had won and that mall security were 
powerless to restrict our freedom of movement or speech in the mall.  One of 
the officers confided that the incident had prompted him to think further 
about the matter, and he had come down even more strongly in our favor than 
he had been previously (which he had mentioned to us even as he was 
escorting us out the week before).

Teams were also dispatched to Westlake Mall in downtown Seattle on Saturday, 
June 18, where a team of Init 610 gatherers were sighted.  They became 
disconcerted at being shadowed by BB, and shortly left in the direction of 
Pike Place Market (which was searched and showed no sign of their presence).

A team at the Strawberry Festival in Marysville failed to find any signature 
gatherers, but did succeed in distributing literature (at a United We Stand 
table, no less!).

Teams will continue to be sent to the mall and other areas of the county 
where we have reports of sighting or suspect that signatures will be 
gathered over the next 20 days of signature gathering.

                                *****

Many thanks to everyone who supported BB in the events of the last week, 
whether you made phone calls, wrote letters or made suggestions on how to 
proceed.  BB made clear to the Mall that we would return, that we would 
stand our ground, and we would follow through on our statements to pursue 
the matter (statements that the Mall perhaps thought were empty).  Firmness 
of conviction and the support of our friends and allies were instrumental in 
securing this victory!

And as always, report sightings of 608/610 signature gathering to : 
322-2782.

       *  Richard Isaac
    __*_*___
    \*   * /    Seattle
    *\    *
   ***\**/**    rmisaac
       \/   @eskimo.com