Anyone Smell a First Amendment Zone?

Saint Paul - For months now, the powers that be in Saint Paul have vowed that, come the Republican Convention next fall, "The City of Saint Paul will be a First Amendment Zone." That people will be free to come to the city, and express their political views.

But with the convention becoming more of a reality every day, the authorities have developed a set of guidelines that seem somewhat less ebullient.

The guidelines include a primary event area (the area in and around the Xcel Energy Center, a secondary event area (a wider perimeter, the boundaries of which are yet to be determined) and something called a, "designated public assembly area".

To be located at the edge of the primary event area, the designated public assembly area looks suspiciously like a first amendment zone.

According to the guidelines, groups and organizations who have applied for and received permits will assemble in a "parade staging area". Then they will march along a "secondary event area parade route" to that designated public assembly area.

At that point, groups will be free to demonstrate. To go ahead and knock themselves out.

When their time is up, they will be expected to leave the designated public assembly area -- hopefully cleaning up after themselves, making it nice for the next scheduled group of protesters. Nobody likes a litterbug.

Can you feel the waves of gratification? Can you imagine yourself hiking back to wherever you parked the Prius, 'No Blood For Oil' sign under your arm, thinking, "There. Guess we told those bastards off"?

In all fairness to the authorities, there isn't that much more they can do to plan for and accommodate the protesters. There is talk of equipping the designated public assembly area with a stage and a sound system. And the Saint Paul Police are on record saying they will do everything possible to make sure that the designated public assembly area will be within sight and sound of the delegates as they enter and exit the Xcel Energy Center. Like so much here in Minnesota, it all makes perfect and orderly sense.

It's just that the Constitution designates the entire country a public assembly area/first amendment zone -- a point that may come up again when the Republicans come to town in September.

Comments

[WorkingClass]

Why even bother with the Republicans. In 2012 they will probably hold their convention at a Howard Johnson's.

[Malarcus]

"It's just that the Constitution designates the entire country a public assembly area/first amendment zone -- "

Truly, nothing more needs to be said.

[research]

Fascism thrives on an orderly population.

[springsm]

Do we have a First Amendment?

[research]

On the internet? Yes,

in the papers? No.

TV, not in the slightest,

radio mostly.

Live for protesting: that's the rub, we are afraid of the police, everywhere else in the western world the police are afraid of the people.

Perhaps this is the tipping point.

[BadChristian]

Are they gonna' have one of those neat-o crowd control guns that shoot microwaves and people from Blackwater wandering around in plain-clothes?

Perhaps all the protestors can wear "kick me" signs on their backs.

As a Minneapolitan, all I can say is that St. Paul should feel almost as proud as Liebermanville.

If you want to protest, your probably better off hanging around the strip joints and sex shops, filming all the Republicans after their little fascist party is over.

[Lemeritus]

"...better off hanging around the strip joints and sex shops, filming all the Republicans after their little fascist party is over."

Another great idea, BadChristian; although since the Republicans have become shameless, we have neither carrot not stick.

[Beelzebufo]

Alas, I can find nothing in the First Ammendment that gives anyone the right to be obnoxious.

[BBackSoon]

That is exactly what the First Ammendment protects.

While I don't agree with what you say, I will protect your right to say it till the end.

[oldpotsmuggler]

Did you find something there that says you get to decide who's obnoxious and who isn't? I missed that one. But I've read a whole bunch of Supreme Court jurisprudence that says that you don't have a clue on this subject. Check it out when you get a chance.

[oldpotsmuggler]

We have a lawyer here in S.L.C. who makes a good part of his living fighting through these sorts of issues. He wins alot more than he loses, and there are lots of folks in government who absolutely detest the fact that they can't push citizens around as much as they would like to.

The restrictions at the Olympics sucked, but there was an effort to keep public protest out of the Capital during this legislative session and it failed. The First Amendment hasn't been completely crippled but it certainly has a pronounced limp.

[Liberal2]

The problem is that the protesters don't simply want their views heard, they want to stop the process. I can't see how to resolve the conflicting wants and needs.

[Lemeritus]

"...they want to stop the process"

Before George W. backed up the works, it was the nature of the world to try to create order out of chaos, so I can understand the impetus to keep things moving smoothly. Still, it needs to be noted that protest is part of the process and to be effective there must always be the chance (even the promise) that the comfortable may be afflicted (which used to be the job of the media, didn't it?)

[dogman44]

Stopping the process is how the people demonstrate
their collective power

[olephart]

Would it be permissible to erect a large hand with its middle finger standing at attention directed toward the Xcel Energy Center and its occupants?

[rwt1138]

A serious protester wouldn't care. Ask yourself WWAHD? (What Would Abbie Hoffman Do)

[tompoe]

Makes me want to join all groups who have a permit, and just wait in the assembly area until they show up. Will watch for the list of appointments to be posted. I suspect there's a whole bunch thinking the same thing. That last group will have a lot of members waiting in the assembly area, you think? :)