T-Shirt Sales to Be Banned at D.C. Sites

The National Park Service on Thursday announced new regulations banning the sale of T-shirts on Washington’s federal parkland, including the Washington Monument, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Mall and other sites now overrun by vendors’ tables.

George T. Frampton Jr., assistant secretary of the Interior, said the new rules are necessary to stop Washington’s monuments from turning into giant open-air bazaars.

“People will be free to demonstrate--to sing, to talk, to sell all kinds of written materials. But under our regulations, they will no longer be free to create a market out of some of our most sacred places,” he said at a news conference on the grounds of the Jefferson Memorial, a few hundred feet from vendors selling T-shirts from collapsible tables.

Frampton voiced confidence that the new regulations, which take effect May 7, would withstand an anticipated court challenge because they do not attempt to restrict the content of any political messages or other protected speech.

Vendors on national parkland will be limited to selling books, newspapers, leaflets, pamphlets, buttons and bumper stickers. The new regulations rescind a guideline that allowed the sale of T-shirts that contained a message directly related to a cause or activity protected by the First Amendment.

Frampton said the regulations may be extended to other national parks where T-shirt vendors have proliferated.

“We think the regulations are a model for the rest of the park service,” he said.

The issue arose several years ago when protesters near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, who have been staging an around-the-clock vigil for years, started selling T-shirts to raise money and promote their cause.

Some of the sidewalk vendors are decidedly upset at the new regulations.

“We’re going to defend ourselves,” said George Pena as he hawked tees in the shadow of the Jefferson Memorial. Pena said he would lose money if he had to move to a city street.

And Alfred Parker bristled at the suggestion that his display detracts from the dignity of the memorial. “Do you think it’s ugly, all these pretty T-shirts?” he asked, gesturing at the colorful piles.