(Another) Chalk Protester Arrested

Another protester was arrested this morning while peacefully exercising his right to free speech: Evan Lisull of the Desert Lamp.

Evan Lisull was detained, cited, and released by the UAPD at the SE intersection of University and Park. The charge was criminal damage, and the arrest occurred at 644 AM today, Monday, Sept. 28.

So far from what we know, he was arrested for participating in today's reaction to the Jacob Miller arrest on Thursday. A group of students planned to write "Chalk is Speech" on ground surfaces (thereby abiding by the law as it is written) in an effort to exercise their right to free speech.

The Daily Wildcat has picked up the story. Read the details here: "Lisull said he wrote campus sidewalks, and not on any buildings or structures, “to address the issue of Mr. Miller’s charges.” “This is a very distinct civil liberties issue,” he said. “Regardless of how you think of the budget, you should be very concerned about this type of crackdown."

Also check out the Wildcat article on the backlash after the first arrest here.

Becky Pallack at the AZ Star is following today's arrest. Check out her online article here: “Chalk is speech,” Lisull said, noting his drawings are in reaction to the arrest Thursday of Jacob Miller, a 24-year-old graduate student, who was cited for criminal damage and interfering with an educational facility during a campus rally protesting cuts to public education."

Chalking Back: A blog to address the free speech issues of chalking and to provide an opportunity to express your disgust with the university's oppression of free speech has been launched by someone (or maybe several people) in the faculty:http://chalkisspeech.blogspot.com/


We have contacted Evan, but he is hesitant to comment on the incident any further, at least until he consults with an attorney. If convicted, he is facing six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Anyone who was out this morning may have seen UA employees riding around in carts, washing off chalk remnants from the sidewalks.

If this is not systematic intimidation and suppression of free speech, we're not sure what is.