Protesters, parks, permits on RNC list

05/31/2007

Committee discussed free speech issues, hoping to avoid complications encountered in other convention host cities.


By Myron P. Medcalf,
Star Tribune
May 30, 2007


St. Paul's Free Speech Workgroup met for the first time Wednesday, with the goal of offering recommendations to the City Council on how to handle demonstrators and protesters at next year's Republican National Convention.
They dealt with a number of issues: permits and housing for protesters, the use of parks as meeting areas, and security perimeters.

And one committee member, Martha Ballou, a lawyer representing the National Lawyers Guild, made it clear she was there because she opposes the Bush administration and views the Republican convention as a way for opponents to voice their opinions.

Ballou said that her political group, True Blue Minnesota, hopes to put up JumboTron screens around downtown to broadcast its own programming during the convention.

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