First Amendment Dies in Kennebunkport, Fittingly

[babylonsister]

First Amendment Dies in Kennebunkport, Fittingly
Submitted by davidswanson on Sun, 2007-11-11 16:38. Media

By Anne Webber

I am writing on behalf of Jamilla El Shefai, who is dealing with a
bout of flu. She wants you to know about a new Kennepunkport town
ordiance, passed this past Tuesday, that enhances the regulations
regarding assembly and adds the price of a bond to all groups over 500
who meet on public grounds in Kennebunkport. The Town Manager says the
ruling is in response to a traveling circus, but more likely it has to
do with the three mass protests organized by Jamilla over the past 2
years. Jamilla is working with a group of Maine lawyers who are
looking into the legality of this new law.

Could you get the word out on this and ask for offers of support or
letters to the Kennebunkport Town Manager or legal help? Below is the
Portland Press Herald article on this law change.

Mass gathering changes to face legal challenge
Voters in Kennebunkport approved new rules, but critics say free
speech could be restricted.
By ANNE GLEASON Staff Writer November 8, 2007
Kennebunkport voters had their say Tuesday, enacting
controversial changes to the town's mass gathering ordinance.
The final word, however, might come from the courts.

Jamilla El-Shafei, organizer of three large peace demonstrations
in Kennebunkport over the past two summers, said she intends
to seek the assistance of the Maine Civil Liberties Union to
mount a legal challenge to the revised ordinance.

The proposed changes, which were approved 957 to 542, drew
the attention of the MCLU a couple of weeks ago. The group said
they might be unconstitutional because they could restrict free
speech in a town that has long drawn political protesters, often
because the Bush family has a summer home there.

The revisions shift the responsibility for issuing permits for
events expected to draw more than 500 people from the police
chief to the Board of Selectmen. They also require organizers of
larger events to take out a surety bond as insurance against any
damages to public or private property.

El-Shafei said the ordinance could be used to discriminate
against unwanted political demonstrations.

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/28609

[sam sarrha]

1. that's it.. their afraid someone will show their back to King George as they walk by his home..