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City may retool speech limits
New rules were drafted after antigay protesters disrupted last year's St. Pete Pride event.
By STEPHANIE GARRY
Published June 25, 2007
ST. PETERSBURG -Bracing for First Amendment challenges at this weekend's St. Pete Pride festival, city officials are meeting today to review and possibly redraft rules limiting speech at the event. Earlier this year, the city prohibited hand-held signs or banners and megaphones. Later, the City Council approved an ordinance that allows the police to enforce the permit conditions with fines or arrests. The new restrictions were a result of a disruption at last year's event when protesters used signs and megaphones to make antigay statements. "You have to balance First Amendment issues with public safety," said City Attorney John Wolfe. The event takes place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Central Avenue between 32nd and 20th streets. Wolfe said his office has been researching First Amendment issues to prepare for the meeting. The city will consider revising the permit to loosen restrictions on speech for the parade portion of the event before the festival. It will also review the location of the protest zone, which will be behind the Sirius Satellite dance floor on Central Avenue between 28th and 27th Streets, according to a map of the event. To ensure protesters' right to free speech, the city must make sure the zone allows protesters to interact with attendees.
[Last modified June 24, 2007, 23:38:30]
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by Jamie
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06/26/07 08:10 AM
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I just don't know why you had to throw black history in there. What does that have to do with sexual orientation? Just sounds like bigotry to me. But that's just me. Have a good day Bob.
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by Bob
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06/25/07 11:13 PM
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Hey Jamie everyone has been repressed in life, but they get no parade. one's sexual orientation should not be one's quintessential defining characteristic. But to have a day set aside just so the gay people can march and act foolish is shameful.
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by .
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06/25/07 09:43 PM
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Thank you Jamie.
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by Keith
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06/25/07 07:44 PM
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The city of st pete is opening themselves for a big law suit if they don't do away with this ordinance.they better look again at what the first amendment says.in your ordinance you've got to make room for spontaneous free speech.
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by Jamie
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06/25/07 02:37 PM
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Hey Bob,
We celebrate straight whitey day every other day of the year. It's about freedom to express what was once repressed. A celebration of the changing times if you will. By the way, i am a straight white Male just in case you think otherwise...
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by Barbara
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06/25/07 12:51 PM
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Bob, the city gets plenty of money from gays shopping and living in St. Pete. No one argues when you take my gay money for taxes. It's about time I get a little back in services that directly address my needs.
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by Bob
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06/25/07 11:07 AM
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It sounds strange to hear about a pride parade to celebrate ones sexuality. Do we have straight day? Weird day? Nope only black history and gay pride day. With budgets cuts who is paying for the police? How much money does the city get? Zip
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by peter
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06/25/07 09:04 AM
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I agree with Jim. Ban megaphones and large signs.The protest zone could not be closer to interaction than the dance floor. Any closer would be encouraging and inciting violence.
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by Jim
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06/25/07 08:35 AM
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Why not just ban megaphones and large signs. Simple and less restrictive. I'm guessing no one is allowed any time to use hand-held signs,banners and megaphones. No more at voting times, no more any time
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by Dan
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06/25/07 06:05 AM
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St.Pete Government is a riot, they creat so many problems for themselves. You just have to laugh at them. Now cut some more working class City Jobs, while you spend tax money on such events.
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