PHILADELPHIA, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Community activists from the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families will take a stand against the Simon Property Group's new policy that puts workers at risk, potentially encourages racial profiling and limits free speech. The action will take place at Simon's Granite Run Mall in Media, Pa., Tuesday, July 25.
The action comes in the wake of an incident last month at Simon's Battlefield Mall in Springfield, Mo., when mall security asked a 10-year-old girl to remove her bandana, which was decorated with peace signs. She had broken a new mall rule, "wearing apparel which is likely to provide a disturbance." Simon mall officials refuse to state which clothing is "disturbing," saying that "common sense should prevail."
The group will wear colorful bandanas at a peaceful dinner at the mall, where they will discuss Thomas Paine's 1776 pamphlet, "Common Sense."
The group says that the policy in effect at Simon's 285 malls in 39 states and Puerto Rico raises serious issues relating to civil liberties. As currently written, the policy has a chilling effect on First Amendment rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and may lead to racial profiling. The policy also places an unfair burden on the public as customers are forced to guess what to wear to the mall and burdens security officers by forcing them to make judgments without a clear directive in place. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is the largest union of security officers in the nation. ACORN is calling on Simon, the nation's largest mall owner, to create a new policy that addresses these concerns.
WHO: Members of ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for
Reform Now
WHAT: Peaceful Dinner in Colorful Bandanas at Granite Run Mall Food
Court; Delivery of Petition to Manager
WHEN: Tuesday, July 25, at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Food Court in Granite Run Mall, 1067 West Baltimore Pike, Media,
Pa., at the intersection of Route 1 and Route 352
