Charges Tossed Vs. Five Bush Protesters

[GreenPartyVoter]

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - A judge on Friday dismissed all charges against five anti-war activists who were arrested last year on their way to President Bush's ranch.

The five were convicted in February of violating the city's protest ordinance and fined $200 to $500. But McLennan County Judge Tom Ragland ruled the ordinance was overly broad and violated the First Amendment.

The ordinance required 15 days' notice and a $25 fee before the police chief could issue a permit for a protest. Crawford officials have since amended the ordinance to require seven days of notice.

"This is a great victory for free speech in the president's own backyard," said Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project. "This decision guarantees that the free speech rights of other protesters will not be silenced by the city of Crawford."

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20040710/D83NMJGG0.html

[billybob537]

1. The city has no legal right to deny free speech.

[liveoaktx]

2. What constitutes a protest? Number of people?

Find it odd that they would have to give 7 days notice and pay $25 to speak up.
In this instance, they weren't even protesting or demonstrating at the time they were arrested.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. "Free" speech costs money, apparently.

[Zen]

4. Well, this isn't the first time Bush has LOST challenges to his

dictatorship in Texas. He's had protestors arrested when he was governor and they have always won their law suits - do you think a chimp can learn new tricks? Apparently not.

[liveoaktx]

5. Nother article someone posted on the Texas forum

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_Protesters_Bush.html;COXnetJSessionID=Avj1AzxJ3ddlKNO0Rw1Zs2YetTIDQq8SpxRQkzRey3fwgJ1l0eb4!-425492080?urac=n&urvf=10894632857870.6761310920107432

Notice that there is an *unwritten clause* where the police chief has to talk to the city attorney before denying a permit.

***
I think this did not go far enough IF the ordinance is so vague that anyone wishing to exercise the right of public free speech has to give 7 days notice plus a fee to do it

[southernleftylady]

6. That is very scary and CRAZY.. n/t

[dumpster_baby]

7. They REALLY ought to sue

money money money