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RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MISSOULA CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING THE PLACEMENT OF A HISTORIC MARKER NEAR THE SITE OF THE FIRST FREE SPEECH FIGHT ON THE CORNER OF HIGGINS AVENUE AND WEST FRONT STREET AND SUPPORTING PLACEMENT OF A HISTORIC MONUMENT TO THE EVENT AT A SUITABLE SITE IN MISSOULA. WHEREAS, 100 years ago, in early October, 1909, at the corner of Higgins Avenue and Front Street in downtown Missoula, Montana, a watershed event in American history brought this nation's attention to the exercise of free speech; and WHEREAS, at that time many U.S. towns had ordinances addressing public conduct that were sometimes selectively enforced against labor organizers, preventing them from street speaking and organizing; and WHEREAS, workers decided to make a stand in Missoula and be arrested to defend free speech rights, making Missoula the location of the first “free speech fight,” an early example of nonviolent civil disobedience; and WHEREAS, workers from Missoula and from around the U.S. stepped up on a soapbox one after another at the corner of Higgins Avenue and Front Street, and were arrested and filled the jail to overflowing; and WHEREAS, Missoula subsequently changed its enforcement practices and later enacted revisions to its laws to allow greater freedom with respect to street speaking and public assembly; and WHEREAS, the defenders of free speech moved on to make similar stands in larger towns; and WHEREAS, Missoula wishes to honor this historic event and its own role in the history of defending free speech rights. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the city council of the city of Missoula, Montana supports placement of a historic marker near the site of the First Free Speech Fight on the corner of Higgins Avenue and West Front Street (Free Speech Corner) and supports placing a historic monument to the event at a suitable high visibility site in Missoula. PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2009. ATTEST: APPROVED: Martha L. Rehbein John Engen City Clerk Mayor (SEAL)