Seattle affiliate of the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality pursuing lawsuit challenging constitutionality of Seattle’s Parade & Special Events Ordinances
Please forward far and wide …
October 22nd Coalition supporters and free speech advocates:
The Seattle affiliate of the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality is currently pursuing a lawsuit (with representation through the ACLU of Washington) challenging the constitutionality of the City of Seattle’s Parade and Special Events Ordinances, as a result of Seattle Police’s “on the spot” rescindment of our previously-valid permit to march in the streets on October 22, 2003. Oral arguments for/against motions by both sides for summary judgement (a ruling that the facts in a case are not in dispute and thus the case can be decided as a matter of law) will be heard on Monday, January 30, starting at 9:00am in the courtroom of Judge Robert Lasnik (room 15-106) of the Federal Courthouse at 7th & Stewart in downtown Seattle. The City is asking that the case be dismissed because of their claim that the Seattle Police’s actions on October 22, 2003 were a reasonable time/place/manner restriction on free speech; we are asking the case to be decided in our favor because of our claim that those actions were, and the City’s Ordinances are, obviously unconstitutionally arbitrary in restricting free speech. A ruling in this case, either via summary judgement or after a trial, will likely have an impact on all groups who organize public events and/or marches in Seattle. Some (but not all) groups have been required to show proof of insurance of up to $1 million to obtain permits, while other (but not all) groups have been required to attract an arbitrarily-changed minimum number of participants to be able to march in the streets - or otherwise be subject to being forced to march on the sidewalk, as we were back on October 22, 2003. We ask all persons concerned about free speech rights who are available at that time to attend this hearing, and/or to spread the word about it; a well-attended hearing will send a message to the judge that many people are concerned about the increasing limitations being placed upon their ability to engage in public demonstrations.
Remember, your rights are a matter of “use it or lose it”.
Seattle Affiliate
October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality 206-264-5527/1-888-NOBRUTALITY
oct22seattle@hotmail.com http://www.October22.org
