With the Republican National Convention less than seven weeks away,
the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is holding a "Know Your Rights"
webinar Tuesday night.
The panel for the online discussion is scheduled to include Tampa Police
Chief Jane Castor, Assistant Chief John Bennett, City Attorney James Shimberg
Jr. and Hillsborough County public defenders Chris Watson, Rocky Brancato and
Shawn Goforth.
In April, a similar ACLU forum drew about 200 people to the Stetson
University College of Law in Tampa.
Since then, Tampa officials have:
--Passed an "Event Zone" ordinance that sets rules for and bans certain
items in an area that covers downtown north to Interstate 275 and Interstate
4, plus Ybor City, the northern part of Harbour Island and an area across the
Hillsborough River that includes the University of Tampa.
--Set an official parade route along Washington Street, Whiting Street
and Nebraska Avenue and begun booking groups into 90-minute time slots on the
route.
--Started reserving city parks for groups that want to hold gatherings
ranging from union rallies to prayer vigils.
--Designated three "public viewing areas" that will allow demonstrators
to gather within sight of the Tampa Bay Times Forum 24 hours a day, no permit
or reservation required.
--Budgeted $24.85 million to cover the personnel costs of Tampa police
and an estimated 3,000 or more officers being brought in from 63 other
agencies from around the Tampa Bay area and across Florida.
Holding this forum online is aimed at not only allowing officials to
provide updates on convention preparations, but letting more people to
participate.
"It opens it up to folks who are coming in from out of state," said Joyce
Hamilton Henry, the director of the ACLU's mid-Florida office.
Scheduled for Aug. 27-30, the convention is expected to draw up to 15,000
journalists from around the world and perhaps an equal number of
demonstrators.
Tuesday's webinar is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and last for about 90
minutes. To follow online, go to www.join.me/acluflorida. To submit a question
before or during the event, email jhamiltonhenry@aclufl.org. Henry said
questions that are not addressed during the event will be forwarded to the
agencies involved for follow-up.
The ACLU plans to hold another webinar on Aug. 7.
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News Column
ACLU Holds Online Seminar on RNC Protest Rules Tonight
July 10, 2012
Richard Danielson
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Source: (c)2012 Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) Distributed by MCT Information Services
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