Protestors decry plan to limit picketing
The group gathers outside BayWalk on a busy weekend night to condemn a city proposal for no-protest zones.
By JAMIE THOMPSON and CARRIE JOHNSON
Published July 25, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - More than 100 protesters walked quietly into BayWalk on Saturday night and gathered around black activist Chimurenga Waller.
In the center of the courtyard, Waller, homeless advocates and antiwar protesters began to condemn a city proposal that would limit picketing outside of the entertainment complex.
Within seconds, the salsa background music was turned up, blaring into the courtyard and drowning them out. A St. Petersburg police officer ordered Waller off the property.
"You're protecting money and the rich people in this city!" Waller shouted, as dozens of curious moviegoers and shoppers watched.
"Free speech! Free speech!" the protesters yelled, pumping their fists.
Police Lt. D. Williams, sweat dripping from his face, called to another officer: "Get me some more units." He threatened to arrest Waller and other protesters if they didn't leave. Police shut down the section of Second Avenue N outside BayWalk.
After about 10 minutes, Waller led protesters from the courtyard, climbed onto a sidewalk bench and spoke through a bullhorn.
"If they enact that ordinance, we're going to violate it," said Waller, president of the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement. "That's not a warning, that's a promise."
The protesters - including City Council member Virginia Littrell - descended on BayWalk shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday, angry about a city proposal for no-protest zones outside of BayWalk and Tropicana Field.
"This is a huge infringement on people's rights," Littrell said as she pasted an "I support free speech" sticker on her sweater.
Littrell said BayWalk officials approached City Hall to inquire about a "safety zone" outside of the complex, saying pickets are creating a public safety hazard by pushing pedestrians into the street.
So far, their strategy has backfired. Protesters from five different groups joined forces on Saturday, creating a larger-than-usual crowd outside the complex. Protesters have gathered at BayWalk since it opened in 2000.
City Council members have not seen an official proposal and aren't scheduled to discuss it until an Aug. 2 workshop.
But the proposal has already stirred controversy among First Amendment advocates and others.
Mark Kamleiter, co-chair of the Green Party of Pinellas, is writing a legal brief denouncing the plan.
Littrell has called the proposal "stupid" and council member Rene Flowers also said she plans to vote against it. Council members John Bryan and Bill Foster have expressed support, and James Bennett is undecided.
Protesters plan to pack City Hall when the proposal is discussed, calling it a violation of free speech.
After ripping an "I support free speech" sticker off his mouth, Jay Shaft, an antiwar protester and advocate for the homeless, said he was outraged.
"This is where we come to let everybody know what's going on," Shaft said. "The economic class we need to expose problems to gathers at BayWalk."
Officially called "pedestrian safety zones," protests would not be allowed in these areas, which include the north side of Second Avenue N and pedestrian crosswalk by BayWalk and the east side of 16th Street and crosswalk by Tropicana Field.
Chief Assistant City Attorney Mark Winn said the city wouldn't be restricting First Amendment rights because protesters would still have reasonable access to the places where they want to demonstrate. For example, protests could still be staged across the street from BayWalk.
Also, the zones would be enforced only during periods of high traffic: Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at BayWalk, and 30 minutes before and after events at Tropicana Field.
Waller said BayWalk is specifically targeting the Uhurus, who protested the complex for eight months after one of their members was arrested there. The group stopped protesting about a month ago after BayWalk agreed to relax a dress code that the Uhurus said targeted young black people.
"We're disappointed with BayWalk," he said. "This is outrageous."
While the protest continued on the sidewalk, people leaned over the balcony of Wet Willie's bar inside BayWalk to watch. Some looked bemused; others annoyed. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, shut up already," one man said as he walked past dozens of signs that read, "St. Pete will not silence us anymore!" and "Freedom of Speech - Use it or Lose it."
Clearwater resident Ann Marie Iverson, 35, said banning protesters might not be a bad idea.
"This kind of stuff is all over the news, 24 hours a day," she said. "We need a break from it. It's Saturday night. People just want to have fun."
- Jamie Thompson can be reached at 727 893-8455. Send e-mail to jthompson@sptimes.com