'Free The Monticello Five' (button by J. Oppenheim) News and documents pertaining to the false arrest of
five law-abiding taxpayers on August 2, 1993, and
related events which preceded and followed, including
Monticello's memorable 'musical chairs' episode . . .
The items linked from this page were posted here in 1999 in response to multiple telephone inquiries received from residents of the Town of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, where James J. Malloy was then Town Administrator, inquiring about Mr. Malloy's performance as Village Manager of our home municipality, Monticello, New York, from which position he was fired in 1995. A problem faced by civic activists everywhere is that, "eternal vigilence" being the price of liberty, governments generally and even some individuals seem to never learn. There's always another tinpot despot waiting in the wings, perfectly willing to abuse police or other government powers to defend against alternative opinions or personal embarassment. We wish the good people of Sturbridge luck.
Copyrighted © articles are posted for their educational and informative value, within the scope of fair use, with thanks and acknowledgement to the journalists and presses who covered these events, generally speaking, with fairness and accuracy. -- TSR

Letter to Kathleen Bonin, taxpayer activist in the Town of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, April 30, 1999
Malloy and the Monticello Five: Another view of ‘Musical Chairs', letter to the editor, Southbridge Evening News, Sturbridge, Mass., April 22, 1999 in reply to The story behind Malloy and 'Musical Chairs' column of April 14, 1999
Monticello pays the piper for "musical chairs", news, The River Reporter, October 31, 1996
Free speech, openness victories brought unknown real-world results, analysis, web editorial, July 24, 1996
Citizens group wins fees due to "intentional and flagrant" violations, news media update, Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press, January 15, 1996
IN THE MATTER OF VICTOR W. GORDON ET AL., APPELLANTS, v. VILLAGE OF MONTICELLO INC., ET AL., RESPONDENTS. 87 N.Y.2d 124, 661 N.E.2d 691, 637 N.Y.S.2d 961, NYS Court of Appeals, law.cornell.edu site, December 7, 1995
Monticello settles $95,000 to end free speech trial, news, The Sullivan County Democrat, November 10, 1995
Sign carriers settle for $95,000 in federal court, news, The River Reporter, November 8, 1995
Monticello free speech suit costs $95,000, news, The Times Herald-Record, November 7, 1995
Trial begins in lawsuit by job-switch protesters , news, The Times Herald-Record, November 2, 1995
Lawyer says Monticello must pay the piper, news, The River Reporter, November 2, 1995 (with letters in reply and editor's notes published November 9, 1995)
Malloy out as village manager, news, The Times Herald-Record, July 13, 1995
Let democracy live, editorial by Tom Rue, The River Reporter, June 22, 1995
'Monti Five' file false arrest lawsuit, news, The Sullivan County Democrat, June 28, 1994
Sign carriers to sue -- Monticello faces lawsuit, news, The Times Herald-Record, June 28, 1994
Musical Chairs moves to Court of Appeals, news, The River Reporter, May 11, 1995
'Monticello 5' to speak at Fellowship meeting, press release, Upper Delaware UU Fellowship, March 3, 1994
Justice OKs motion to drop charges against protesters, news, The Times Herald-Record, February 21, 1994
2 protesters' charges dismissed, news, The Times Herald-Record, February 9, 1994
Certificates of Disposition, Town of Thompson Justice Court, People vs. Thomas Rue and People vs. Carmen Rue, the Hon. Burton Ledina presiding, February 7, 1994
Lungen: Drop case against 'Monti 5', news, The Sullivan County Democrat, January 25, 1994
Job swap protesters off hook? Ruling vindicates their actions, news, The Times Herald-Record, January 22, 1994
VICTOR W. GORDON, ALEXANDER CHERVIOK, PETITIONERS, v. VILLAGE OF MONTICELLO INC., THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MONTICELLO INC., JOHN DIUGUID, MARK SCHULMAN, ROBERT FRIEDLAND, DAVID ROSENBERG EVELYN VAN DERMARK, GLORIA CAHALAN, GLADYS WALKER, RESPONDENTS, New York State Supreme Court, Decision and Order, January 7, 1994
1993 The Year in News showing the death of democracy, The Sullivan County Democrat, December 28, 1993.
Free speech demonstrators arraigned in Monticello -- New court papers backdated by police, news, The River Reporter, November 4, 1993
Sign-carriers claim rights were violated, news, The Times Herald-Record, October 22, 1994
'Monticello Five' case to Town of Thompson Court, news, The Sullivan County Democrat, September 7, 1993
Justice declines protesters case, news, The Times Herald-Record, August 24, 1993
Protest continues at Monticello Village Board, news, The Sullivan County Democrat, August 20, 1993
Protesters challenge speech restrictions in Monticello, news, The River Reporter, August 19, 1993
Hearing scheduled for protesters, news, The Times Herald-Record, August 19, 1993
Officials Allow protest signs at Monticello village meeting -- In contrast to arrest of five in August, news, The River Reporter, August 19, 1993
Protesters test ban on signs, news, The Times Herald-Record, August 17, 1993
Village Board warns group against disrupting meeting, news, The Times Herald-Record, August 16, 1993
Monticello officials acted illegally, court says -- 'Free speech' protest case to be moved, news, The River Reporter, August 12, 1993
Republicans blast Monticello officials for arrests at meeting, news, The River Reporter, August 12, 1993 [930812a.htm]
The right to assemble, opinion colum, The Recusant Reporter, The River Reporter, August 12, 1993
Protest case venue changed, news, The Times Herald-Record, August 11, 1993
'Musical chairs' illegal?, news, The Times Herald-Record, August 10, 1993
Monticello arrests raise question of public safety, 1st Amendment rights, news, The Sullivan County Democrat, August 6, 1993
Large turnout urged in Stericycle protest case, news, The Sullivan County Democrat, August 6, 1993
Protesters arrested at Monticello board meeting, news, The River Reporter, August 5, 1993
Monticello official says protest went over the line, news, The Times Herald-Record, August 4, 1993
5 cited at board meeting: New chief arrests foes of Stericycle, news, The Times Herald-Record, August 3, 1993
Advisory Opinion by NYS Committee on Open Government, OML-AO-2206, April 6, 1993
Minutes of Regular Meeting of Board of Trustees, Village of Monticello, N.Y., Monday, March 1, 1993, 8 P.M.

Everyone is watching you. Do the right thing.
Click the above image to view photos
depicting two forbidden protest signs,
a forbidden book, and the Grim Reaper.

Related websites
American Civil Liberties Union wise counsel
National Freedom of Information Center places unusual, uncomfortable and distant
NYS Committee On Open Government letting the sunshine in
The People's Voice an old watchdog
The Reporters Committee for a Free Press more wise counsel
Stericycle infectious medical waste with a happy face
Sturbridge, Massachusetts present home of jim j. malloy

Questions or comments about this site: tomrue@gmail.com
Compilation posted in by Tom Rue. All Rights Reserved.
Articles are archived here for educational "fair use" under copyright law.