Posted on 01/14/2005 1:10:14 PM PST by mdittmar
An anti-war group filed a lawsuit Friday challenging what it called "the unprecedented exclusion of the public" from President Bush's inaugural parade route.
The lawsuit in federal district court claims the National Park Service is illegally blocking the general public from access to vast portions of Pennsylvania Ave. reserved solely for guests screened by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
"The public has the right to access the parade, but what they are doing is trying to sanitize the parade route," said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, an attorney representing the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition and other activists.
Park Service officials say they have fulfilled their obligation to allow the public - including demonstrators - access to open areas along the parade route. The agency has offered A.N.S.W.E.R. space for up to 10,000 protesters to stand or sit in bleachers in a large plaza along the route, just a few blocks from the Capitol.
The park service also has issued A.N.S.W.E.R. permits for protesters to stand in nine other smaller locations along Pennsylvania Ave. But the group says most of those areas are tiny pockets behind bleachers or in fenced-in areas more than 100 feet from the parade route.
In 2001, thousands of demonstrators were able to stand on sidewalks along the parade route, carrying signs and shouting slogans as Bush's motorcade passed. This year, Verheyden-Hilliard said, the park service is excluding the public from most sidewalks and open spaces between and around bleachers.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to order the park service to open up Pennsylvania Ave., to all members of the general public, including protesters. Verheyden-Hilliard said a federal judge could hear arguments in the case on Friday or early next week.
A.N.S.W.E.R is also challenging Secret Service restrictions that allow protesters to carry signs, but ban them from being affixed to poles or sticks.
The parade gets under way at 2 p.m. EST on Thursday after Bush's swearing-in at the Capitol and a celebratory luncheon.
Oh, you've gotta be kidding!
What they basically want to to is get up and punch Bush. THAT'S how close.
this is what I think about those nuts....ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz
What? Complaints filed from a pro-gun antiwar group?
"In 2001, thousands of demonstrators were able to stand on sidewalks along the parade route, carrying signs and shouting slogans as Bush's motorcade passed."
But that was before 9/11! We were able to do a lot of things before that tragic event that we cannot now do.
Oh the HUMANITY!!!!!!!
So this is The Mighty Left--their protests and political action to achieve their goals are reduced to whining and crying about a parade? LOL! Pathetic losers! What's next in this united front against their political opponents, a bake sale or a car wash?
I think they want to expose our president in hopes of making him vulnerable to attack. They really hate him and us.
Oh, those poor widdle pwotest gwoups...
That's a shame.
Maybe they can go to China and protest there,see how egg throwing is dealt with in the systems they love so much.
Sounds about right to me!
I agree with you - where is our DOJ? They could start with Kerry.
The Park Service ought to rip up A.N.S.W.E.R.'s permission slip and arrest and deport to France anyone that tries to show up in that space.
Nothing new. Bush has a history of making sure that those who oppose him aren't close enough to be seen during his appearances.
Sure, but look at it from their prespective: at least everyone would like us because we would let them get away with whatever they did. Thats fair, isnt it? (At least the way the Lefties see it)
Nice try though.
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