Advocates for the homeless plan a ''sleep-in'' at the site of the televised GOP debate.

[flvegan]

ST. PETERSBURG - It has the makings of a public relations nightmare: CNN, big-name politicians - and more than 100 homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks outside the Mahaffey Theater, the site of Wednesday's GOP presidential debate.

With the national media coming to town, advocates for the city's homeless announced on Friday their plans for four days of protest, including a "sleep-in" and hunger strike.

While organizers said they would act peacefully and within the law, the specter of a confrontation with police looms, recalling the incident in January when officers slashed the tents of homeless people. Advocates said that with a spotlight on St. Petersburg, they have the advantage. The city, they believe, can't risk another black eye.

"I'm sure Mayor Baker doesn't want another embarrassment, but the possibility of embarrassment falls on him, not us," said the Rev. Bruce Wright, an advocate for the homeless who is organizing the protests. "It's really hard to say what their response is going to be. I would hope that they would adhere to protecting the constitutional right of dissent, of protest, of free speech."

Several phone calls to Rick Baker's cell phone went unanswered on Friday.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/24/Southpinellas/Protest_set_for_prime.shtml

This is big news here, locally right now. And that's a good thing.