St. Petersburg considers no-protest zones

[KG]

Officials worry that protests near BayWalk and Tropicana Field threaten public safety.
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Published July 20, 2004

ST. PETERSBURG - Chris Ernesto and about 25 colleagues gather outside BayWalk every Saturday night to voice their frustration about the situation in Iraq.

Waving banners that say "U.S. Out of Iraq" and "Fire the Liar," they distribute literature and explain their views to the hundreds of people who flock to the entertainment and shopping complex.

"It's the most high-traffic area in the city, the place with the highest exposure," said Ernesto, a member of St. Pete for Peace. Other groups agree and choose BayWalk for their protests, too.

Now, city officials say the demonstrations are creating a public safety hazard by pushing pedestrians into the streets. They have proposed designating "pedestrian safety zones" outside BayWalk and Tropicana Field where picketing would not be allowed.

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how come i think if these were pro-war demonstration, this wouldn't be an issue?

[Crazy8s]

1. Aren't there a group of flag wavers

who have been appearing in and about that area regularly since 9/11?

[onethatcares]

2. I've been to one of those demonstrations and

it was very well handled, no pedestrians are being blocked, no traffic interfered with. But, Rick Baker does have governor ambitions and to get along, you have to go along. I would like to see the documentation of people being pushed out on the street.