ACLUNC Urges Sacramento City Council Committee Reject New Ordinance Restricting Free Speech Activities Around City Hall

Submitted by JTjaden on Thu, 08/09/2012 - 17:37

Press Releases from the ACLU of Sacramento County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Contact: Cres Vellucci 916/996 9170 aclu-sacramento@comcast.net

Attention: Assignment Desk

SACRAMENTO – The ACLU of Northern California has sent a letter to Sacramento City Council members sitting on the Law & Legislation Committee urging them to oppose a measure on the committee's agenda today (August 9) which would restrict free speech activities around City Hall.

The ACLU/NC said the proposal "contains numerous unconstitutional burdens on speech" in a letter to council members Darrell Fong, Steve Cohn, Jay Schenirer and Sandy Sheedy.

The local chapter of the ACLU will participate in a news briefing at 2:30 p.m. in front of New City Hall THURSDAY (8/9/12).

The ACLU/NC letter said, in part: " The prior version of the ordinance would have imposed an unconstitutional prior restraint on political speech through its onerous permitting requirement. The current version of the ordinance no longer contains that pm1icular defect, but still imposes unnecessary and unconstitutional burdens on speech. We therefore urge you to oppose it."

Copies of the letter will be available at the press briefing, or http://aclusac.org/node/448.

The City Council Law & Legislation Committee holds a hearing at 3 p.m. on the legislation that would require a permit, fees, insurance and other requirements before some free speech events can take place on City Hall property, and limit others that are now being "allowed" without a permit.

http://sacramento.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=21&event_id=21&met...

Currently, constitutionally-protected events can take place on City Hall property for 24 hours a day. The proposed law, recommended for approval by City staff, would halt that without the City's approval.

The proposed ordinance will restrict and criminalize protest activities on City Hall property.

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