PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Defend Your Right to Protest!
by tmc Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004 at 8:22 AM

Pittsburgh City Council to hold public hearing on a proposed ordinance to require a "cost recovery fee" for all protests and parades.

On Thursday, February 26 at 10:00 am, Pittsburgh City Council is holding a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to require a "cost recovery fee" for all protests and parades.  The cost estimates for the typical march and rally sponsored by the Thomas Merton Center would run into the thousands of dollars.  The City would also require a level of liability insurance that our insurance agent tells us is nearly impossible to get, and if so, it would cost thousands of dollars for one event!  Clearly, this would be overly burdensome and would make it possible for only the super wealthy to legally demonstrate and exercise their constitutional rights in a democracy.  (Yet, the wealthy tend to write large campaign contributions, rather than take to the streets to make their views known!)  This ordinance is being proposed the day before the Federal Court takes up the issue in a lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of the Thomas Merton Center, NAACP and People Against Police Violence.  We need as many people as possible to show up in City Council tomorrow, Thursday, February 26 at 10:00 am to defend our consitutional rights to assembly and free speech.  All who attend the hearing will be given the opportunity to speak before the Council for three minutes.  Hope to see many of you there, as we will not be silenced!

Thursay, February 26, 10:00 am

City Council Chambers

City County Building, 5th floor (Forbes and Grant)

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by dannyp Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004 at 8:06 PM

So, what happened?

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