St. Paul's yanked our Permit (RNC)
By Ben Masel, Section Diaries
Posted on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:35:39 PM EST
Tags: 1st Amendment, Republican National Convention, Minnesota, St. Paul, FISA, Guantanamo (all tags)
Posted on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:35:39 PM EST
Tags: 1st Amendment, Republican National Convention, Minnesota, St. Paul, FISA, Guantanamo (all tags)
On March 5th, dailykos denizen norahc (Ben Plunkett) obtained permits in the name of "Swift Students for Truthiness" from the St. Paul Parks Department for use of Hamm's Plaza for non-partisan issue oriented expressive activity on Sept. 3d and 4th, 8AM to 8PM. Planned, a "Shutdown Guantanamo Stop Torture" event the 3d, "Stop Government Spying" on the 4th, both starting at 4:00. I'm co-ordinating the "spying" event.
Hamm's is tiny, not much more than a traffic island, so the limit of 91 in attendance at any time was acceptable.
Yesterday, Ben received a Certified Mail from the Parks Department, dated August 5th, indicating that the permits had been revoked, offering alternative space at Ecolab Plasa or Mears Park, both much less visible. Hamm's is 2 blocks from the Convention site at the Excel Center, and faces the St. Paul Hotel, a major delegate hub. I've just lined up an attorney, we'll be seeking a Temporary Restraining Order directing that the Parks Dept. honor the original permit.
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