March 11, 2021 at 6:05 p.m.
Facebook page should be a forum
Letters to the editor
Facebook page should be a forum
To the editor:
I am a resident of District 33 and am represented by JD Prescott.
On Feb. 22, I checked into my representative’s Facebook page to see if he had posted any updates on the current legislative session that was in process. Rep. Prescott had made a post at 2:26 p.m. regarding House Bill 1005, which will affect school funding in the coming years if passed.
Many people were making comments and asking questions regarding this piece of legislation as well as Rep. Prescott’s commitment to our public schools. As a concerned constituent, I asked a question regarding Prescott’s voting record on previous school-related issues as well as other legislation he has voted against.
JD Prescott then proceeded to block me from his Facebook page so that I was no longer able to participate in the discussion.
I feel this is a blatant violation and restriction of my First Amendment rights to freely converse in political discussion with my representative. I did not violate any of Facebook’s rules regarding inappropriate language, threats or any other behavior that would constitute a violation.
In a time when public events are highly restricted and technology is increasingly used to communicate, laws have been slow to adapt. Federal courts have determined that it was illegal for higher profile politicians like former President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez to block constituents on social media.
Per the American Civil Liberties Union website, “the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the interactive portion of a public official’s Facebook page is a ‘public forum,’ so an official cannot block people from it because of the opinions they hold.”
Prescott’s post was made as a government official discussing legislation and should be open to comment from all constituents whether they agree with Rep. Prescott or not.
I encourage JD Prescott to unblock myself and any other constituents he has blocked and act as a true representative of his district. He should be promoting all our voices, not silencing them.
Brandon Kloer
Portland
I am a resident of District 33 and am represented by JD Prescott.
On Feb. 22, I checked into my representative’s Facebook page to see if he had posted any updates on the current legislative session that was in process. Rep. Prescott had made a post at 2:26 p.m. regarding House Bill 1005, which will affect school funding in the coming years if passed.
Many people were making comments and asking questions regarding this piece of legislation as well as Rep. Prescott’s commitment to our public schools. As a concerned constituent, I asked a question regarding Prescott’s voting record on previous school-related issues as well as other legislation he has voted against.
JD Prescott then proceeded to block me from his Facebook page so that I was no longer able to participate in the discussion.
I feel this is a blatant violation and restriction of my First Amendment rights to freely converse in political discussion with my representative. I did not violate any of Facebook’s rules regarding inappropriate language, threats or any other behavior that would constitute a violation.
In a time when public events are highly restricted and technology is increasingly used to communicate, laws have been slow to adapt. Federal courts have determined that it was illegal for higher profile politicians like former President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez to block constituents on social media.
Per the American Civil Liberties Union website, “the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the interactive portion of a public official’s Facebook page is a ‘public forum,’ so an official cannot block people from it because of the opinions they hold.”
Prescott’s post was made as a government official discussing legislation and should be open to comment from all constituents whether they agree with Rep. Prescott or not.
I encourage JD Prescott to unblock myself and any other constituents he has blocked and act as a true representative of his district. He should be promoting all our voices, not silencing them.
Brandon Kloer
Portland
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