As American as free speech zones

Star Tribune Wed, 21 May 2008 03:06:48 GMT
Bloomington ordinance lays out rules for protests during GOP convention

The city worked with the ACLU to come up with a plan to balance the rights of free speech with keeping order. Bloomington has passed an ordinance outlining when and where legal protests will be allowed within the city during the upcoming Republican National Convention. The City Council, after negotiating with the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, approved the ordinance 6-1 Monday night but with significant changes. "We wanted to remove all impediments to working this out," said Sandy Johnson, Bloomington's associate city attorney. Among the revisions to the original ordinance is the elimination of insurance and security deposit requirements the ACLU believed would limit the number and size of protests. "After hearing our objections, they did make substantial changes," said ACLU legal counsel Teresa Nelson. "This version of the ordinance is much improved."

[[keywords: Officials;Metro;]]