They have the right to protest. But not the right to protest in anyplace they want.
Posted on 07/19/2004 3:51:05 PM PDT by Libloather
Anti-war group sues over planned pre-convention march
The Associated Press
July 19, 2004 5:22PM
BOSTON - A coalition of groups that wants to march to the FleetCenter the day before the Democratic National Convention sued the city Monday after it was told it must stop its march two blocks away.
The A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition said the city cited security reasons when it denied their request to march directly in front of the FleetCenter.
"The whole threat of terrorism, you can't continue to use that as a blanket excuse to suppress civil liberties," said Dustin Langley, volunteer for the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition.
Mary Jo Harris, legal adviser to the Boston Police Department, said the city rejected the FleetCenter portion of the march because of safety concerns. She said the groups told the city they expected anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people to participate.
"We felt we wouldn't be able to safely evacuate the area if necessary," she said.
The march was planned for Sunday from the Boston Common to Causeway Street in front of the convention site. A permit was approved for a rally on the Common and a march that stopped two blocks short of where the group wanted to end.
The suit, which claims the groups' constitutional rights to free speech and assembly were being violated, was filed in federal court in Boston by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of several groups. ACLU Legal Director John Reinstein said the march was meant to be a peaceful and symbolic protest to get their message across to convention delegates.
The suit was joined by A.N.S.W.E.R, Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner, The New England Human Rights Organization for Haiti, Union of Minority Neighborhoods, The Women's Fightback Network, The International Action Center, the Stonewall Warriors and the United Steelworkers of America, Local 8751, which represents about 800 Boston school bus drivers.
The convention will run from July 26-29.
Yes, you can...
The New England Human Rights Organization for Haiti!
NEHROH! NEHROH! NEHROH!
Boston school bus drivers??? Nothing like highly-skilled professionals ...
Boston is WAY in over it's head on this one!!!
I'll be glad when it's over.
The DNC and RNC are a waste of time anyways.What on earth are they but theater disguised as the Democratic process.
The whole thing could be done on a conference call or a web conference.
(rant off)
</bored voice>Yes, we are protesting the DNC convention. We are are non-partisan.group. Presumtive Democrat Candidate John F. Kerry will be continuing Bush policy. We are protesting
They have the right to protest. But not the right to protest in anyplace they want.
I Hope some of these shenanigans wake up the independants and traditional dems. perhaps they will see that the lunatics are taking over the asylum
Hey, Freedom isn't free - have them arrange to pay for private security details courtesy of the Boston PD (overtime rates, of course)
Nope, they'll be picketing over contract disputes. God I love it!
"The whole threat of terrorism, you can't continue to use that as a blanket excuse to suppress civil liberties," said Dustin Langley, volunteer for the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition."
He is too stupid to realize it :) A.N.S.W.E.R are terrorists to our way of life. They better never march down my street. I could only hope a few would wander onto my property. They are nothing but parasites wanting to suck the life blood out of the productive businesses and citizens in this country while they do nothing but try and get a free NEA endorsed eductation with a curriculum comprising "it's ok to have 3 dads" "Vote Democrat, it's easier than getting a job--New theories on American Economics", "Any piece of trash is art!" etc. These folks are a complete waste of oxygen.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.