Winter Grass, an event that has supported a decades old tradition of jamming, is now demanding that those who engage in jamming at the event pay a $10 fee to do so! This event, which claims to honor musical tradition, has just decided that tradition means nothing, when it comes to illegally fleecing musical artists for the almighty buck.

For those of you from other parts of the world, here's the thing. The main ground level north/south walkway is considered an indoor public street. By charging a fee, the event's management is purposely ignoring the laws in place, regarding the unconstitutional act of restricting First Amendment rights on public property.

They cannot, under law, dictate or restrict the manner in which anyone engages in their First Amendment rights on public property. Freedom of Expression is a right on public property. Charging a $10 fee to engage in our First Amendment right to Freedom of Expression on public property was deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2009. Yet, that is what they (Winter Grass) are determined to try to get away with.

This event's lawlessness by engaging in unconstitutional activities is more than a mere affront, it is disrespecting those who gave their all to secure the rights and freedoms we enjoy. Consider how many have fought and died to establish our precious freedoms and rights. Yet, this organization sees fit to ignore all of those sacrifices made and the countless lives lost, to establish our freedoms and rights and instead, act like petty dictators. Why? Just so they can fatten their wallets.

Berger vs The City of Seattle (2009) couldn't have made it more plain. When, 9 of the 11 judges hearing the case in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that it is unconstitutional to dictate a means by which someone can exercise their First Amendment rights on public property. But here we go again, with another round of megalomaniacal actions taken by the organizers of yet another event, who have deluded themselves into believing that they possess the right to enact and enforce unconstitutional/unlawful restrictions on Americans engaged in exercising their First Amendment Freedom of Expression rights on public property.

Unless Winter Grass Music Festival would like to take the matter to the Supreme Court, the ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit remains the law of the land. Their rulings govern the entire western seaboard of the U.S. and yes, that includes the city Bellevue, where this event will take place, staring tomorrow (Feb. 24th). I invited the event to step down off their high horse and get some horse sense but they have done nothing to right this wrong.

Their greed is all they care about at this point. Though, I highly suspect that if their actions are ignored and they are allowed to abuse our rights in this manner, they will use this lawless power grab to continue to act out unconstitutionally, to further abuse and erode our First Amendment rights.