A permit to protest has been the practice for decades. <\/p>\n
Click here to watch Catherine Cruz's report. <\/p>\n
Groups planning to demonstrate for or against bills under consideration at the capitol had to first ask permission. <\/p>\n
\"The new rules make it easier for groups to exercise their First Amendment rights,\" said American Civil Liberties Union attorney Dan Gluck. <\/p>\n
The ACLU filed suit earlier this year after trying for three years to informally work out the permit problem with the state. <\/p>\n
The two sides reached a settlement this month agreeing to drop the requirement that groups apply for permits, indemnify the state and obtain insurance in order to gather at the rotunda. <\/p>\n
\"As a general rule you don't have to get the government's permission before you exercise your First Amendment rights. You dont have to get the government's okay to have a demonstration, and a lot of these rules impacted people's ability to do that,\" said Gluck. <\/p>\n
That lawsuit was brought by the ACLU on behalf of The Drug Policy Action Group which ran up against the roadblocks trying to organize a demonstration. <\/p>\n
Pam Licthy called the settlement a win for grassroots groups who need to respond quickly without bureaucracy getting in the way of the message. <\/p>\n
The state attorney general David Louie issued this statement. <\/p>\n
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Originally posted here: <\/p>\n
Free speech win over demonstrations at state Capitol<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A permit to protest has been the practice for decades. Continue reading