Travelers passing through Los Angeles International Airport will no longer hear chants of “hare hare” as they rush to catch their flights.
The California Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a city ordinance on Thursday that bans Hare Krishnas and other groups from soliciting at airports.
California’s other major airports are expected to enforce similar bans following the judgment.
Today’s decision is the end-of-the-line in a 13-year legal battle between Los Angeles and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). ISKCON had argued it had a First Amendment right to solicit in LAX.
The state court shot down that claim, stating the ban did not violate constitutional law, since the Hare Krishna society had alternative means of expression–which did not involve panhandling–to convey their message.
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The Justices also wrote that the ban was a logical measure to improve airport congestion and protect national and international travelers from harassment and fraud.
According to LAX police, the airport averages to about seven solicitation arrests a month. Solicitors are charged under a municipal code that bans aggressive solicitations.
Solicitation has been a long-running issue for LAX. An army of 100 solicitors representing 15 organizations regularly descends upon the airport.
With this new order, solicitors will no longer be allowed on airport parking lots, terminals or sidewalks. Though solicitation is banned, groups can still preach at airports.
Lawyer for ISKCON says they have run out of legal options. ISKCON has spent the last two decades challenging similar airport ordinance around the nation without success.
Suits against New York City airports and Miami International Airport have been thrown out or ignored by the Supreme Court.
In addition to California, airports in Florida, Alabama and Georgia also have strict no-solicitation policies.
By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.
Related links: Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, New York Times
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