Crossgates Mall - Controversies

Controversies

In recent years, two well-publicized controversies have taken place regarding mall policies.

• At the beginning of the Iraq War in March 2003, the mall became the center of a free speech controversy when Selkirk resident (and director of the Albany Office of the state Commission on Judicial Conduct) Stephen Downs was arrested by the Guilderland Police after he refused to leave the mall or remove the T-shirt he had just purchased, which read "Peace on Earth". After an immediate protest of over 100 local residents who went to the mall the next day wearing anti-war t-shirts of their own, the mall dropped the charges. A few days later, a larger protest was held at the mall, with many of the protesters sporting anti-war clothing.

• In July 2005, the mall adopted a curfew policy known as "MB-18" for people under the age of 18 on Friday and Saturday evenings. This policy prohibits minors from entering the mall unless accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 21 (it does not apply to the movieplex). This policy has since been instituted in other Pyramid malls.