ACLU protests registration requirement
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Protester Registration Requirement
The ACLU says protesters should not be required to register with Providence police.Published: June 11, 2009
PROVIDENCE—The Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday called on Mayor David Cicilline to abandon efforts to have people and groups register with police before demonstrating at the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Cicilline said it is not an “unusual practice” at large meetings of elected officials.
But in a letter to the mayor, ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown said the city “has no right to demand that individuals ‘register’ in order to exercise their fundamental right to protest in public.“
The mayor, who established the policy three days ago, said the registration is for planning purposes.
Providence firefighters have said they will picket the event, which begins Friday. The union has not had a contract with the city for about a decade.
The threat of a picket line led Vice President Joe Biden and members of the president’s Cabinet to cancel their attendance at the conference.
Cicilline met with the head of the firefighters’ union on Wednesday, but they failed to reach any agreement.
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Reader Reactions
I do believe this is the first time I have agreed with the ACLU in my lifetime. This guy will never get elected Governor. He is a joke to just about all who live in Providence.
I watched the 10 at 10 news. Just after the story about Mayor Cicilline wanting protesters to register, Gene spoke to a holocaust survivor who wrote Clara’s War. Gene, you missed a chance to ask her how she felt about government requiring people to register because of their views or beliefs. Mayor Cicilline, you might be thinking about a run for Governor. From what I see you have ignored this problem with the firefighters for some time now. Is this how you would run the State? Are you going to demand people register with the state police to protest in RI ?? YOU WILL NOT GET MY VOTE! Your just embarrassed that the Vice-President did not come to Providence. Put your house in order and end this dead lock with the firefighters. Also get rid of this registration of protesters rule. We do not need our rights taken away from us.
ps: who is that old woman with the raspy voice talking in all those anti-firefighter ads on talk radio?
Oh wait its ciccilini
The fact that the mayor of the capital city of what foxnews calls the least free state, has basically made it law that protesters must register with the police…
is even more reason for us to Not Register and Come to Demonstrate!
Who is this anti-American sissy scumbag to not pay firefighters what they’re worth, then tell the public ‘Do not demonstrate how you feel’
He is an Elected Representative who apparently only represents his own agenda and apparently according to Dan Yorke can’t keep himself out of gay public sex prostitute bars.
Why cant he take a stand against prostitution and trafficking instead of firefighters and your constitutional rights as citizens.
He needs to be knocked off his horse. His family is mob-defenders and felons.
Dont ever be afraid to protest! Especially protest the government leaders that look to limit your freedom to do so!
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