ACLU sues Minneapolis over ordinance limiting events at All-Star game

Pioneer Press ^ | 5-9-14 | Amy Forliti

[TurboZamboni]

Organizers of a one-day street festival in Minneapolis sued the city Thursday, saying an ordinance that limits events around the time of Major League Baseball's All-Star game in July is unconstitutional.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, claims the city ordinance gives MLB the authority to approve activities in certain areas for 15 days surrounding the July 15 All-Star game at Target Field.

Organizers of the One Day in July Street Festival, which will commemorate the 80th anniversary of a deadly Teamsters strike in 1934, say MLB shouldn't have control over their event.

"It is an insult to me, and to all Americans, that before exercising my First Amendment right to speak and assemble I must first get permission from a private company," event organizer Jim McGuire said in a statement. "It is ironic that in trying to commemorate a horrific violation of our rights in the past, we are now facing further violations."

The ordinance, adopted Feb. 21, says the city won't issue permits or event licenses between July 5 and July 20 in an area that includes all of downtown Minneapolis without additional approval from MLB. The purpose of the ordinance, according to the resolution, is to keep the All-Star game's focus on baseball and "to prevent ambush marketing activity and other activities with the potential to distract from the event."

[TurboZamboni]

I wonder when the ACLU will sue the Met Council for exerting undue control over what cities can and cannot do.

[cripplecreek]

With the ACLU involved, I suspect its about wanting to have lefty protests for various things when they can get maximum exposure.

[Vigilanteman]

Simple solution: Have a Christian group apply for an event permit near the same time and at about the same distance from the ballpark, complete with posters advertising Tommy John’s ERA (3.16).

[Theoria]

'The ordinance, adopted Feb. 21, says the city won't issue permits or event licenses between July 5 and July 20 in an area that includes all of downtown Minneapolis without additional approval from MLB. '

BS. Another example of 'two' America's.

[Farmer Dean]

Or yet another fag parade.