Georgia Passes Laws Limiting Protests

AP ^ | Apr 18-04 | RUSS BYNUM

[AmericanMade1776]

Georgia Passes Laws Limiting Protests Sun Apr 18, 1:34 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!

By RUSS BYNUM, Associated Press Writer

BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Robert Randall never knew free speech could cost so much — in dollars and in compromises — until he tried to organize a large-scale, peaceful demonstration for this summer's G-8 summit.

The coastal city of Brunswick, where Randall hopes to gather up to 10,000 people to protest the world leaders' summit, passed a law last month that places conditions on public demonstrations.

Organizers of protests like Randall's "G-8 Carnival" must put up refundable deposits equal to the city's estimated cost for clean up and police protection. Demonstrations may only last 2 hours, 30 minutes. Signs and banners may not be carried on sticks that might be brandished as weapons. And the signs may not be larger than 2-by-3 feet.

"This law would not exist if the G-8 was not coming here," said Randall, 51, a local therapist who has attended demonstrations since the Vietnam War. "It makes it impossible to express oneself through assembly or speech on public property unless you have money."

Thousands of anti-globalization protesters are expected June 8-10 when President Bush (news - web sites) hosts the leaders of Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Canada and Russia on secluded Sea Island.

Brunswick, Savannah and surrounding counties have passed ordinances governing protest permits. The American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites) has threatened to sue, saying the laws "place impermissible limits on free speech."

Observers say the cities' actions fit a national pattern of managing dissent with beefed up laws and police powers that constrict constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and assembly.

The new laws are a response to the violent protests during the 1999 World Trade Organization (news - web sites) meeting in Seattle and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

Demonstrators are facing some of their toughest restrictions since the 1960s, said Ronald Collins of the First Amendment Center in Arlington, Va.

"Post-Seattle and 9-11, it seems more municipalities are considering measures that may well undermine existing First Amendment law," he said.

Miami banned props such as water pistols, balloons and sticks before demonstrators arrived for a global trade summit in November. The city repealed the law last month in the face of lawsuits.

On Thursday, federal appeals court judges ruled that an Augusta, Ga., ordinance violated the rights of a women's group that sought to protest outside the all-male Augusta National Golf Club during the 2003 Masters golf tournament.

The ordinance, adopted just before the tournament, let police keep protesters a half-mile from the club's gates and required a permit for any assembly of five or more people. The appeals court said the law "creates the opportunity for undetectable censorship."

Activists also have complained that security plans for so-called "free speech zones" at the Democratic Convention in Boston will keep protesters from being seen or heard.

Cities "are choosing sides and what they're doing is trying to silence people from speaking out," said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a Washington attorney and co-founder of the Partnership for Civil Justice. "And they're using the law as a political tool to do it."

During the G-8 summit in Georgia, both Brunswick and Savannah expect to see protesters.

Brunswick is the nearest inland community to Sea Island, which will be off limits to demonstrators. Savannah, 60 miles north, will house 5,000 international journalists and dignitaries.

With the summit less than two months away, neither city has approved any permits for demonstrations — in part, activists say, because of steep requirements.

Brunswick requires groups of six or more to apply for permits at least 20 days before an event. The city's ordinance sets no limit on deposits, and says permits may be denied if a demonstration is likely to congest traffic, impede commerce or endanger the public.

Savannah's law is similar but does not specify the size of groups needing permits, which the ACLU says could be applied to one person.

City officials have said that protesters wanting to use public parks will be charged the same fees — $150 to $700 per day — as people renting those spaces for private events such as weddings. Groups of 150 or more must pay maintenance deposits of $1.50 per head.

Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson declined to comment, citing the threat of litigation from the ACLU. But City Attorney James Blackburn told the Savannah Morning News the city would review the ordinance in light of the appellate decision on the Augusta lawsuit.

In Brunswick, Randall says he's waiting to find a site for his demonstration before requesting a permit. The city's mayor says the city is trying to help him.

[cksharks]

It would be hunky-dory if these f-ing bastards would just protest.The problem is they tear up everything in site.If you can gurantee that they will not destroy the towns then I will gurantee that they can have 50k if they want them.Fair enough? The kicker is you pay if they dont obey.

[dmz]

I hate to say it, but I think there are plenty of freepers who would be perfectly content with any and all restrictions on the other side. The problem is that sooner or later, everyone is on "the other side".

The attitude that these restrictions are OK surprises me in about the same way as those freepers espousing monarchism.

[Hank Rearden]

works for me.

Yes, it "works" for all totalitarians.

[FreedomPoster]

You're in the neighborhood. Thought you might want a ping, and might even want to comment.

[Vigilantcitizen]

First, the headline is totally misleading:

"Georgia Passes Laws Limiting Protests"

Second paragraph of the article...

The coastal city of Brunswick, where Randall hopes to gather up to 10,000 people to protest the world leaders' summit, passed a law last month that places conditions on public demonstrations.

Second, the protesters are in for a bad day if they start trouble...I'm sure the security personnel will be heavily populated with local prison "goon squad" employees. Not a nice bunch of guys at all.

[backhoe]

I, too, have reservations about limiting speech... but I want you all to consider this:

When you're talking about 10,000 G-8 protestors

I live here- despite misrepresentations by the city fathers to the contrary, based on actual meter connections and phone service, Brunswick is believed to have 16,000 residents. The whole of Glynn County, including the islands, has about 60,000 people.

Our police force ran- I say again, ran- from racial disturbances about 6 blocks away from our house. This happened about 2 years ago, and the news was suppressed, even locally. My wife & I unshipped weapons from the armory, and waited, and we got lucky- it burned out before reaching us- but the old house we inhabit is tactically indefensible. Talk about sweating blood.

G-8 is a farce, in my opinion- we, the sheep, are being sold it as we were the 1996 Atlanta Olympics ( for your info, ATL is about a 5-hour drive from here ) where we were all told to put up with the inconvienience because it would make everybody here rich & famous.

We're still waiting on our cut of the money and fame, and G-8 will be no different.

These characters who are wanting to protest look to me like professional malcontents, with the usual smattering of useful dupes thrown in to fool the press. Like Seattle.

[backhoe]

The coastal city of Brunswick, where Randall hopes to gather up to 10,000 people to protest the world leaders' summit, passed a law last month

I caught that right off, VC-- it's a local ordinance. See my #26-- I neither kid nor exaggerate about what I mentioned. The local police ran away from about 30 unruly people at a nightclub- I shudder to think what they'd do if faced with even a thousand organized anarchists.

[DoughtyOne]

Free speech? Yes. Deal harshly with violence and destruction? Yes.

I understand the thought behind this law, but view it as unconstitutional. Further, I do not like protesters being moved miles away from the activity of summits or meetings. Within reason those attending these conferences should see what the public thinks about what they are doing.

Now I realize there needs to be security concerns, so I'd make sure these peckerheads were disarmed before allowing them to protest, otherwise the leaders who are just glorified citizens anyway, should have to put up with noise and discomfort to screw the populace, if that's what they are doing.

Those who are doing right, should have the character to stand up for that right, and damn the protesters, full speed ahead.

[kevkrom]

a thousand organized anarchists

Oxymoron alert?

[backhoe]

I do see your point... maybe "controlled chaos-ists" would be more accurate!

[Vigilantcitizen]

See my #26-- I neither kid nor exaggerate about what I mentioned. The local police ran away from about 30 unruly people at a nightclub- I shudder to think what they'd do if faced with even a thousand organized anarchists.

I believe it. But you can bet the elitist attending the G8 have the money to bring in private security by the busload, and will do so.

Sorry to hear you almost had trouble neighbor. If I lived closer, I'd been right over. I know you'd let me use one of your BAR's. ;^)

[Tamar1973]

The American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites) has threatened to sue, saying the laws "place impermissible limits on free speech."

This is the same group that supports the laws which tell anti-abortion protestors they can't protest within 500 ft of an abortion clinic.

Another example of liberal, ACLU hypocricy.

[Glenn]

Poll taxes were deemed illegal and this set of laws amounts to a poll tax on protestors. That's not right and will surely be found illegal down the road.

And if these morons think a rule is going to stop 10,000 apparent scofflaws from tearing through their hamlet, they are in for a surprise. The only thing they will do is push this to a Kent State situation where the guard will be called to clean up the mess.

[backhoe]

I do have a spare...

What outsiders don't realize is that there is a "gulf fixed between Brunswick and the Islands"- one that goes beyond the actual distances involved, or the salt marshes lying between.

These protesters might as well stage in Darien or Waycross, for all the nonexistent impact it will have on G-8 on those on the Islands.

To me, they are just self-indulgent pests trying to get attention from the usual suspects in the Jackal Pack Press, and to have their 15 minutes of fame on the TV.

You are right about an abundance of private security- the actual attendees have little to fear; they will be well-guarded.

It's us peons out in the hinterlands who will be annoyed by roadblocks, checkpoints and other manifestations of the Iron Fist inside the velvet glove.

[grellis]

My parents live on Jekyll Island so this is a hot topic for them, too. Most people don't realize just how small a community Glynn County is, and the press nationwide hasn't helped much--more often than not, I hear the press saying that the summit will be in Savannah. An influx of 10,000 protesters to Savannah would probably not be too big a deal. In Glynn County its going to be a nightmare.

Keep us posted on how things go. A FReeper on the scene! Cool!

[backhoe]

My parents live on Jekyll Island so this is a hot topic for them, too. Most people don't realize just how small a community Glynn County is, and the press nationwide hasn't helped much--more often than not, I hear the press saying that the summit will be in Savannah. An influx of 10,000 protesters to Savannah would probably not be too big a deal. In Glynn County its going to be a nightmare. Keep us posted on how things go. A FReeper on the scene! Cool!

Thanks for pointing that out- this is a fairly big area geographically, but we are a small community by most standards.

My plan is to hunker down and try to vanish, but I will report whatever, or what little, I observe.

My regards to your folks- I'll be holding forth from my little bastion in the South End.

[gogeo]

A small suburb of Seattle was hosting a fundraiser for W. The usual leftists were bussed in from Seattle and other points. There was, obviously, a lot of cops around, a lot of overtime.

Who should pay for the OT?

[mwyounce]

Ahh yes, the infamous July 4th race riots of Brunswick... I was glad I was on the Island... we heard the news the next morning, with the burned out police cars and all...

I'm glad i'm not going to be in that mess, but unfortunately my family still is... My father runs an exterminating company in Brunswick, and they've been told just to accept the fact that they will not be getting on Sea Island, and might as well not even try to come across the St. Simons causeway...

I'd love to hear W.W. and the Chamber of Commerce explain how this is a benefit to the businesses of Glynn County....

[dansangel]

The local police ran away from about 30 unruly people at a nightclub- I shudder to think what they'd do if faced with even a thousand organized anarchists.

You and all of the legitimate, year-round residents of Brunswick and St. Simons will figure heavily in my prayers as G-8 approaches.

You know how I feel about you, your family and St. Simons Island. I was heartsick when I heard the G-8 was going to be held there. When .45MAN and I visited last fall, the natives were a-buzz about the upcoming meetings. None, that I could see, were paticularly happy about it.

I hope and pray all goes well for you and that the unruly, hate-driven malcontents choke on their own bad karma.

[upchuck]

Brunswick is the nearest inland community to Sea Island, which will be off limits to demonstrators. Savannah, 60 miles north, will house 5,000 international journalists and dignitaries.

Brunswick is a pretty small place. I doubt it can hold 10,000 protesters without stacking them :)

I wonder why they're heading north on I95? A quick glance at a Georgia map shows heading south on I95 to Jacksonville, FL to be closer. Jax is considerably larger than Savannah also.

Regarding the free speech issue.. IMHO, it makes sense for the city to require a permit. This gives the city notice of the event so the city can plan for it. Requiring a deposit is pretty much on the edge for me. I'd rather have the police disperse the gathering if they (police) felt the protesters were making a mess.

As far as overtime pay, etc. goes, the city and state should consider this a "cost of doing business" and build this into their respective budgets.