State Green Party Press Release

Broward Greens win judgment in OAS protest lawsuit.

Green Party of Florida
http://www.floridagreens.org
Broward county Green Party
http://www.browardgreens.org

Monday, June 6, 2005

Contacts:
Gary Hecker, Co-Chair, Green Party of Florida, 954-525-4522, hecker@ecoisp.com
Cara Campbell, Co-Chair, Broward County Green Party, 954-525-4522, carac@ecoisp.com

Florida Greens Win Judgment In OAS Lawsuit

The Green Party of Florida, the Green Party of Broward County and other co-plaintiffs, won an important battle in their struggle to protect the civil liberties of those wishing to protest during the Organization of American States General Assembly gathering from June 5-7 in Fort Lauderdale. A Federal Judge in issued a ruling supporting the plaintiff's challenge of city ordinances recently enacted to limit rights of assembly and free speech at this event.

	Florida Greens demonstrating in Ft. Lauderdale at OAS meeting. (Photo: Cathy Gilbert)

On Friday, June 3, 2005, Federal Judge K. Michael Moore issued a temporary injunction against the enforcement of Ft. Lauderdale city ordinances, which limit protest activities in public areas. The injunction limited the city's power to dictate where demonstrators can stand and what objects they may carry, such as sticks (supporting banners and signs), bottles, umbrellas and signs.

Judge Moore also overturned a prohibition against the gathering of 8 people for a "common purpose" as a violation of First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly.

This ruling means that the City is barred from using these ordinances, pending a permanent injunctive ruling in the future. The plaintiffs' legal team, headed-up up by National Lawyer Guild attorneys, is confident that the Court's final ruling will also find these ordinances unconstitutional. Until that happens, the Green Party in Florida is determined to continue the fight against these ordinances.

In an effort to save other challenged ordinances from being struck down, the City has also agreed not to enforce ordinances that make it an arresting offense to block or "annoy" passersby on the sidewalks. The City also agreed to issue permits involving streets closures for parades or marches in a timely manner.

Broward County Green Party and the Green Party of Florida, were joined with other plaintiffs in this lawsuit (Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, Inc., et al v City of Fort Lauderdale, et. al.) in order to protect citizens' rights against these unconstitutional ordinances.

"We thank Judge Moore for his timely decision," said Gary Hecker, Co-Chair of the Green Party of Florida, " Our legal team did an outstanding job of presenting our arguments, and the results will be seen at this weekend's OAS rally and march. We didn't compromise, and stood up for demonstrators' rights across the country."

Cara Campbell, a Co-Chair for the Broward Greens is upbeat. "This is a great start- a definite victory for free speech rights. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that similar laws will not reappear in other cities as an excuse to limit demonstrators' ability to have their important messages seen and heard."

The OAS General Assembly meeting will be in Ft Lauderdale, FL on June 5-7. A scheduled visit by President George W. Bush is expected to draw a significant number of demonstrators.

For Further Information:

Green Party of Florida: http://www.floridagreens.org
Broward County Green Party: www.browardgreens.org
Alliance For Justice in the Americas (AJA): www.aja.org