City of the banned? Protest prohibition under discussion in Burlington

[The Straight Story]

BURLINGTON — A proposed ordinance that would ban protests and public assemblies in front of City Hall and the main office of Vermont’s lone congressman threatens to stifle Burlington’s reputation as a hotbed of protest politics.

Marches against war and in favor of gay and lesbian rights have been among those that have helped to shape public debate and have brought thousands of people to the Queen City.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit protests on about three-quarters of the city’s four-block pedestrian mall — the Church Street Marketplace — and could create other barriers to obtaining a permit to protest, parade, or otherwise spontaneously assemble in Burlington without permission from city officials.

The ordinance states that the section of Church Street in front of City Hall, and in front of Independent Congressman Bernie Sanders’ office, are only to be used as “performance sites.” It bans assemblies of 50 or more people during weekdays on the section of Church Street that sports the entrance to the city’s downtown mall, the Burlington Town Center. Public assemblies would be banned entirely on Saturdays and Sundays on this block.
Sanders, who is running for U.S. Senate, won his first electoral victory in Burlington when he was elected mayor in 1981 and often urged residents to take their protests to the doors of their elected officials.

http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/052007/CityProtestRePrint.shtml

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. ACLU will be on this, I bet

Violation of free speech since alternatives near these places haven't been offered.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. So the first amendment doesn't apply in Vermont anymore?

[cali]

8. so this is an article from over 2 years ago

and this was shot down willy nilly.

[crimsonblue]

3. Did you not actually read the article?

First of all, it's from 2007, so it is not current. Second, it states above the article that the proposal was shelved. Why is it always so necessary for people on here to stir up bullshit sentiment?

[John Q. Citizen]

5. There is more than enough factual and timely stuff to concentratre on without

mis-direction.

[crimsonblue]

6. I agree.

I'm not sure if you're chastizing me or agreeing with me, but w/e.

[John Q. Citizen]

9. I agree. The story is old and not relevant in any way, except to point out the governments are

always going to try to infringe on rights, and they are often unsuccessful.

[crimsonblue]

10. well, duh!

Of course those bastards want to take away rights. It's what government does. That's why the fourth estate and the masses at large need to fucking pay attention to the world around them and not get distracted by Bullshit Idol.

[cali]

11. actually the governing bodies in Burlington are pretty damn good

Bob Kiss, the mayor, is a prog. The City Council is made up largely of liberals and progressives. This was proposed by a city attorney- before Bob was elected but while there was another liberal mayor- and was shot down quickly.

I actually think very highly of a lot of the government here in Vermont- with the exception of our repuke governor.

[crimsonblue]

12. Yeah, well Vermont isn't really America, now is it?

:P I guess there is that group that wants to form its own country with a province f/m Canada. But yeah, there must be something in the syrup to make Vermonters sane.

[John Q. Citizen]

13. I know, it's not everyone and it's not even all the time. It's just that sooner or

later someone will come up with an idea that limits or rolls back our civil rights and they never seem to have a clue as to why that would upset or matter to anyone.

So I'm not trying to broad brush the gubment. It's just the dynamic tension of constitutional representative democracy.

[cali]

14. agreed. there are always assholes- like the city attorney who suggested this.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. Bernie Sanders is a US Senator, and Vermont gets two, just like everybody else.

My guess is that law didn't fly.

[cali]

7. Why the heck would you post an article from 2006 with the following

header:

By Shay Totten | Vermont Guardian

Posted May 17, 2007

This article first appeared on January 6, 2006, and the Guardian broke the news on our website earlier in the week. After a public outcry, the ordinance proposal was shelved by city officials.

No way such an ordinance would ever pass with Bob Kiss (P) Mayor, and a largely liberal city council?