Beg to Differ 

Editor:

It was great to see the Journal's story ("Already Occupied," Oct. 13) on the local response to the OccupyWallSt.org movement. While Humboldt Tea Party members may not feel much affinity with the Occupy Humboldt members, I agree with your writer Zach St. George that "their members might find more in common if they paused to consider."

I was pleased to read in other local media that in Arcata even the mayor was out in support of the protesters, but I must point out that while many in Arcata support the right of these "occupiers" to hold up their signs with any number of statements and demands, if one of these protesters dares to include a request for donations on one of those signs, they will be in violation of Arcata's Panhandling Ordinance, over which I am currently suing the city.

If we want to support free speech for Tea Party members and Wall Street Occupiers alike, we need to also tolerate free speech by panhandlers.

Richard Salzman, Sunny Brae