In response to a decision to discontinue political booths at the Saturday Farmer’s Market in Chestertown, Bill Flook, President, Democratic Club of Kent County said their organization has done nothing that deserves being removed from the venue.
Democratic Club Statement on Farmers’ Market Political Booths
The Democratic Club of Kent County is disappointed in the town’s decision to exclude the club from setting up its informational booth in the nonprofits sections of the Chestertown Farmers’ Market. For the record, for many years the Democratic booth in the Farmers’ Market has maintained high standards of decency, and a positive and informative approach to political issues and candidates. We have taken pains to be respectful of the free speech rights of our political opponents, as well as the sensibilities of Chestertown and of the patrons and vendors of the Market. We are committed to pursuing the “high road” during this campaign season and into the future.
In the past we have maintained cordial relations with the Republican Club and Central Committee, particularly when our booths were set up together in the Market. We are committed to following that approach. Some years ago the town solved the question of which group could set up where, simply by assigning locations to each group. We have always complied with all Farmers’ Market rules, and will continue to do so.
In short, we have done nothing that warrants being denied access to the Farmers’ Market, and we urge the Mayor and Town Council to reconsider their decision, and to permit us to set up our booth in the nonprofits section. We believe that, as with other nonprofit groups, we are providing helpful information to the patrons of the Market by being there.
In the meantime we will continue to maintain our booth in front of the Democratic headquarters office at 357 High St. in Chestertown, Saturdays 9 am to noon. We encourage members of the public of all ages and political persuasions to come and visit – we have a lot of very informative materials to share.
Bill Flook, President, Democratic Club of Kent County
info@dckcmd.com
Totally agree. Why does the behavior of the Kent Republicans lead to banning innocent parties.
Thanks, Bill –
I have been an occasional volunteer at the Democratic booth in the park in previous years. Bill is absolutely right. While people sometimes want to argue with us, I have never heard or observed anyone’s voice being raised, oe anyone being unpleasant to a visitor. I have also never seen merchandise being sold, though we do accept contributions for small items – buttons, bumper stickers, yard signs, etc. The presence of political party booths at the market – as long as people behave and follow the rules – is not a bad thing. Groups who cannot behave in a civil manner SHOULD be banned.
It’s not about you. The, “Farmer’s Market,” is about the Farmers selling their food to the community. You have plenty of ways to talk politics. Farmer’s have far fewer ways to sell produce. Don’t put that at risk. There are far bigger fights.
Your fellow donkey,
Jenn
I have no quarrel with Mr. Flook’s statement about the need to have both parties at the Market, nor do I disagree with him about civility. However, remember that drawing conclusions, making judgments and casting aspersions without first hand knowledge of the facts is a dangerous game.
Gary Di Vito is the President of the Republicans of Kent
Thanks for reading, you can certainly send us your side of the story as the dems did and we will publish it.
Which Republican spray painted Tump on the Biden sign as you enter town over the Chester River bridge? Is that another expression of free speech? I think the entry to our town now smacks of disregard for private property. Why can’t people engage in civil discourse talking to one another versus smears?
You have identified my role with ROK so you must have known who I was before you wrote your story. Why did you not contact me for my side of the story.? Do not journalistic ethics require that you do so?
As a registered Democrat, supporter of free speech, and equality, I have absolutely no need for any political party in the space where I shop for vegetables and crafts, and enjoy my community.
All parties have space nearby the market where interested folk can visit.
I’m a staunch Democrat supporter – never more than this year. That having been said, the Farmers Market manager was in an unenviable position and made the right decision. Regardless of the fact that the issues were with the Republican space, banning the Republican booth and not the Dem booth would have brought headaches and complaints which the market manager does not need and should not to address. She made the best decision for the market which, ultimately, is her responsibility. She should not have to deal with the animosity and ugliness of the current political climate. Simply do the politicking somewhere else and let the Farmers Market be the Farmers Market.
When Major League Baseball made a rule that both teams be warned when one pitcher threw at a batter I thought it was a cowardly decision. The GOP violated the mask rule the Dems didn’t; the GOP had a vulgar banner the Dems didn’t. Equal punishment for the 2 groups is a cowardly way to try to seem just when there is no comparison between the two groups behavior.
I respectfully second Bill Flook’s request to the mayor and council to reinstate the Democratic Club to the farmers market. To penalize any market participant for the transgressions of another, with which it had no association or culpability, is patently unfair. Would it make sense to ban all food vendors for the transgressions of one food vendor?