FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 24, 2008
CONTACT:
ACLU Communications Office, media@aclufl.org
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today announces a victory for the members of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM), who were allowed to protest police shootings and hand out leaflets in front of Tropicana Field during the first two games of the World Series. Threatening InPDUM’s First Amendment rights was a recent city ordinance designating a broad “clean zone” around Tropicana Field during the World Series.
The ordinance included many “Pleasantville-”type restrictions, including a ban on “garish” colors on vendors’ tent signs that outlawed the use of primary colors. The ordinance further dictated that everyone was forbidden to distribute any materials in the block in front of the arena, even non-commercial protesters. The fine for breaking the ordinance was $500 a person. After ACLU attorneys challenged the ordinance’s repression of free speech, the protesters were allowed to demonstrate and distribute leaflets without being cited by the police.
“Even if the Rays didn’t win the first game of the World Series in St. Petersburg, free speech did win. The government cannot restrict free speech in the name of public safety when there was no threat to public safety to begin with. Our clients’ peaceful actions did not threaten pedestrian safety. Free speech is as American as baseball, and we’re glad both are vibrant here,” said attorney Rebecca Steele, Director of the West Central Regional Office, ACLU of Florida.
“The unwillingness of the City to enforce the ordinance when it was challenged is an indication that the City was aware of the ordinance’s unconstitutionality. It is also an indication of why it is necessary to challenge unjust laws to prevent them from further undermining the fast-eroding rights of the people,” said Kobina Bantushango, InPDUM spokesperson.
To read the letters sent to St. Petersburg City Attorney John C. Wolfe please go to:
http://www.aclufl.org/pdfs/102108--Atty_Ltr_StPete.pdf
http://www.aclufl.org/pdfs/102208--Atty_Ltr_StPete.pdf
About the ACLU of Florida
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our Web site at: www.aclufl.org.
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