A common adage these days is ìFreedom isnít free.î A law that was recently repealed by the city might be interpreted similarly: ìFree speech isnít free.î

That was the interpretation of one group of demonstrators who sued the city over its policy of charging more for certain types of public demonstrations than for others.

The immigration-reform group We Are One America argued that Asheville officials violated their right to free speech by charging $1,500 for a parade permit, based on the assumption that the rally would draw counter-protestors and hence require a larger police presence.

These types of laws have been struck down in courts across the country numerous times, and for good reason. If municipalities are allowed to say that certain types of speech are more expensive than others, then freedom really isnít free.

It is unfortunate that the city had to face a legal challenge to come to that realization. A town that prides itself on its diversity ought to understand that setting a higher bar for certain viewpoints to be expressed violates the basic principles that our country was founded on.

This is especially problematic because it places a higher price on controversial opinions. By setting the standard that any speech likely to draw protests is more expensive, the law effectively made minority dissent harder.

If it is more difficult for minority opinions to be heard, how is positive social change ever going to be accomplished?

This town has a long history of political dissent being tolerated and enacted peacefully. While there certainly have been some incidents over the years of protests getting out of hand, for the most part Asheville has learned to tolerate free speech.

Groups as diverse as the anti-war Women in Black and the Ku Klux Klan have all managed to present their beliefs in the public forum without violence erupting.

Regardless of how one feels about the positions of these groups, as U.S. citizens, it is incumbent on us to support their ability to express them.

There is a certain irony that it took a group involved in advocacy for immigrants to remind us what is so great about this country.

Free speech ó not paid speech ó is one of the most important values we hold.