Chris
11-10-2017, 10:11 AM
Various groups in San Antonio are protesting free speech costs. It's an odd argument that fails to understand what is meant by free in free speech.
Protesters: ‘Free Speech Should Be Free’ (https://therivardreport.com/protesters-free-speech-should-be-free/)
More than 50 activists gathered on the steps of City Hall Wednesday to demand changes to rules pertaining to free assembly in San Antonio. City Council was scheduled to discuss the rules during its weekly briefing session on Wednesday, but the item was pulled by City staff for a later date. The City Attorney’s Office is working with the Free Speech Coalition on draft proposals.
Leaders of the coalition, which represents 45 independent organizations, called for more flexibility regarding public protests, including reduced fees and fines and moving approval authority outside of the police department.
...Under current law, protests and parades can legally operate on sidewalks without a permit, but anytime demonstrations move to a street, they must be approved. To issue the permit, the police department reviews potential concerns over public safety for protesters and bystanders, maintaining order, and avoiding congestion.
For each street demonstration, the cost of traffic control and cleanup must be covered. The City pays up to $3,000, but organizers must provide the rest, which can include overtime pay for required officers and the city’s cleanup personnel. According to organizer Joleen Garcia, those costs often surpass $7,000. For many organizers, that is beyond their available budget. “In the past 10 years, many groups have had to cancel their marches to avoid thousands of dollars of charges,” Garcia said.
...The activists’ primary concerns are over prohibitive permit costs, which will be difficult to resolve without increasing taxpayers’ financial responsibility to help organize demonstrations.
Sofia Sepulveda, who spoke about how cultural traditions like Las Posadas are restricted by procession permit costs, roused the crowd with a simple claim. “If you have to pay for freedom of speech, it’s not free at all.”
Protesters: ‘Free Speech Should Be Free’ (https://therivardreport.com/protesters-free-speech-should-be-free/)
More than 50 activists gathered on the steps of City Hall Wednesday to demand changes to rules pertaining to free assembly in San Antonio. City Council was scheduled to discuss the rules during its weekly briefing session on Wednesday, but the item was pulled by City staff for a later date. The City Attorney’s Office is working with the Free Speech Coalition on draft proposals.
Leaders of the coalition, which represents 45 independent organizations, called for more flexibility regarding public protests, including reduced fees and fines and moving approval authority outside of the police department.
...Under current law, protests and parades can legally operate on sidewalks without a permit, but anytime demonstrations move to a street, they must be approved. To issue the permit, the police department reviews potential concerns over public safety for protesters and bystanders, maintaining order, and avoiding congestion.
For each street demonstration, the cost of traffic control and cleanup must be covered. The City pays up to $3,000, but organizers must provide the rest, which can include overtime pay for required officers and the city’s cleanup personnel. According to organizer Joleen Garcia, those costs often surpass $7,000. For many organizers, that is beyond their available budget. “In the past 10 years, many groups have had to cancel their marches to avoid thousands of dollars of charges,” Garcia said.
...The activists’ primary concerns are over prohibitive permit costs, which will be difficult to resolve without increasing taxpayers’ financial responsibility to help organize demonstrations.
Sofia Sepulveda, who spoke about how cultural traditions like Las Posadas are restricted by procession permit costs, roused the crowd with a simple claim. “If you have to pay for freedom of speech, it’s not free at all.”