The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed a lawsuit against the City of Cleveland based on the list of insane and flat out untenable rules placed on a 3 mile square "Event Zone" for the 3 day period of the Republican National Convention from July 18-21.
Some of the rules relate to protests (duration, location, permit requirements), which are to be expected. Protest and march organizers have expressed sharp criticism of their clear free speech violations.
In a written statement, Christine Link, executive director of the ACLU of Ohio said, "The restrictions on speech put in place by the city of Cleveland are arbitrary, unnecessary, and unjustifiable. City officials have refused to make proper accommodations to protect free speech, so we are asking the courts to step in now."
Arbitrary? Well, some of the banned items are indeed ludicrous and arbitrary. For example, tennis balls and canned food are banned. Ridiculous. But guess what isn't banned? If you said guns, you would be right! Tennis balls and cans of soup are more dangerous than guns.
One of the ACLU's main points is that canned goods and other basic items, such as string, rope, etc, are items that homeless people almost universally possess. Banning those items is a backwards way of effectively banning the homeless. Pretty sneaky and underhanded. But wait, this is the Republican Party and we know how kind and accepting they are of the homeless.
Kidding.
Plus, the zone is so large, that it includes a university, dorms, homes, grocery stores, etc. How exactly are people supposed to get their food home if it is banned? No cans, bottles, etc. That is ludicrous. Will police be standing at the doors, ransacking grocery bags? Maybe Trump will send out his modified SS to do this work. I can see it happening.
The lawsuit is asking the city to minimize the restrictions because they are flat out stupid. Well, they used more police language, but that's what it comes down to. Stupidity.
[Source: Cleveland.com]
