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From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale plans to ban water guns, balloons in security plan for global conference
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationw...0799.story?coll=ny-leadnationalnews-headlines
By Jean-Paul Renaud
Staff Writer
April 5, 2005
Fort Lauderdale -- City officials today may back a controversial, permanent ban of water guns, glass containers, spray paint cans or balloons filled with water from parades and public gatherings.
The proposed measure has already drawn fire from the American Civil Liberties Union, which calls such restrictions unconstitutional.
City officials say a proposed law up for the first of two reviews was drafted "in preparation for the possibility of demonstrators during the OAS conference," according to David Hébert, a spokesman for the city.
But the ACLU argues such a proposed law is unnecessary and vows to file for a restraining order if commissioners adopt the ordinance.
"We feel that public officials in Fort Lauderdale are sending a message that people's fundamental right of free speech is no longer tolerated," said Zeina Salam of the Broward ACLU. "You cannot directly attack certain groups for their right to protest."
Dignitaries from almost every country in the Western Hemisphere will descend on the Broward County Convention Center at Port Everglades for their annual meeting June 5-7 to discuss free trade.
"This law is really based on common sense," Hébert said. "The intent is to ensure the orderly outcome of any public event to provide for the safety and security of the participants and the spectators."
If approved today, the proposed restrictions return for a final vote later this month.
The proposed law defines a public assembly as more than eight people gathering on public property for a common purpose for longer than 30 minutes. That definition, Salam said, is too broad.
"Theoretically, they could enforce it at a party in a public park where kids are having party with water balloons," she said. "Our argument is that the act of violence is against the law anyway."
It also would require posters and signs to be made only of "cloth, paper, flexible or cardboard material no greater than one-quarter inch in thickness." Proposed rules also limit the size of sticks for the signs.
City officials decline to say whether or how many demonstrators may try to protest or disrupt the conference.
Information on possible protests is "being very, very controlled and limited to law enforcement," Hébert said.
Officials in Miami introduced a similar ordinance in 2003 when the city was host to a meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. There, police said anyone who brought such items as spray paint cans and glass containers to protest the economic meeting did not intend to participate in peaceful demonstrations. Miami police arrested 234 people during that event, but no one was charged under the new law, which was later repealed.
City officials in Fort Lauderdale say they are confident the proposed law is constitutional.
"We're very comfortable that it fits within the parameters of what is constitutionally required," Hébert said.
Jean-Paul Renaud can be reached at [email protected] or 954-356-4556.
Fort Lauderdale plans to ban water guns, balloons in security plan for global conference
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationw...0799.story?coll=ny-leadnationalnews-headlines
By Jean-Paul Renaud
Staff Writer
April 5, 2005
Fort Lauderdale -- City officials today may back a controversial, permanent ban of water guns, glass containers, spray paint cans or balloons filled with water from parades and public gatherings.
The proposed measure has already drawn fire from the American Civil Liberties Union, which calls such restrictions unconstitutional.
City officials say a proposed law up for the first of two reviews was drafted "in preparation for the possibility of demonstrators during the OAS conference," according to David Hébert, a spokesman for the city.
But the ACLU argues such a proposed law is unnecessary and vows to file for a restraining order if commissioners adopt the ordinance.
"We feel that public officials in Fort Lauderdale are sending a message that people's fundamental right of free speech is no longer tolerated," said Zeina Salam of the Broward ACLU. "You cannot directly attack certain groups for their right to protest."
Dignitaries from almost every country in the Western Hemisphere will descend on the Broward County Convention Center at Port Everglades for their annual meeting June 5-7 to discuss free trade.
"This law is really based on common sense," Hébert said. "The intent is to ensure the orderly outcome of any public event to provide for the safety and security of the participants and the spectators."
If approved today, the proposed restrictions return for a final vote later this month.
The proposed law defines a public assembly as more than eight people gathering on public property for a common purpose for longer than 30 minutes. That definition, Salam said, is too broad.
"Theoretically, they could enforce it at a party in a public park where kids are having party with water balloons," she said. "Our argument is that the act of violence is against the law anyway."
It also would require posters and signs to be made only of "cloth, paper, flexible or cardboard material no greater than one-quarter inch in thickness." Proposed rules also limit the size of sticks for the signs.
City officials decline to say whether or how many demonstrators may try to protest or disrupt the conference.
Information on possible protests is "being very, very controlled and limited to law enforcement," Hébert said.
Officials in Miami introduced a similar ordinance in 2003 when the city was host to a meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. There, police said anyone who brought such items as spray paint cans and glass containers to protest the economic meeting did not intend to participate in peaceful demonstrations. Miami police arrested 234 people during that event, but no one was charged under the new law, which was later repealed.
City officials in Fort Lauderdale say they are confident the proposed law is constitutional.
"We're very comfortable that it fits within the parameters of what is constitutionally required," Hébert said.
Jean-Paul Renaud can be reached at [email protected] or 954-356-4556.
