Court: Rights of anti-war protesters in Westlake were not violated

Westlake Center security guards who ordered three anti-war protesters to lower their signs or leave the upscale mall several years ago did not violate their right of free speech, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

In a 7-2 decision, the court found that Westlake - though different from most shopping centers because part of it is a public right-of way that lets people cross through to use the monorail - was not a public forum.

The mall's requirement that people lower any signs while passing through "is a reasonable regulation on speech," Justice Barbara Madsen wrote for the majority.

The dispute began on Feb. 15, 2003. The protesters were planning to board the monorail to attend a large anti-war rally at Seattle Center. One of them, Beth Sanders, said a security guard told her the sign was frightening other shoppers.

She and the other protesters argued that carrying the signs as they boarded public transportation was protected by their freedom of speech.