Federal judge strikes down restrictions at Republican convention

Posted by | June 23, 2016 23:00 | Filed under: Good News Politics

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Restrictions on speech and parades outside the Republican convention in Cleveland have been ruled unconstitutional.

At a Thursday morning hearing, U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin said he would issue a preliminary injunction forcing the city of Cleveland to rewrite its restrictions for a potentially contentious convention expected to draw up to 100,000 politicians, delegates, supporters, protesters and media.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio had sued the city of Cleveland in a lawsuit that also included a liberal group, Organize Ohio, and a conservative group, Citizens for Trump, that had hoped to hold parades near the convention events in the heart of the city.

The city’s regulations restricted parades to 18 separate 50-minute time slots on a single route near the convention. The city had also banned all sound amplifiers larger than bullhorns and all speaking platforms within a security zone that stretches more than three square miles within the city.

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Copyright 2016 Liberaland
By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.

16 responses to Federal judge strikes down restrictions at Republican convention

  1. Mike June 23rd, 2016 at 23:25

    I missed the 68 convention in Chicago ( got drafted ) but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna miss this … I made reservations a month ago

  2. Budda June 24th, 2016 at 08:14

    I can understand Clevelands concern for safety etc. but freedom of speech, right to assemble etc. are also important and really are the core of our country.

    I also assume Cleveland campaigned to get the convention never once considering the potential mayhem that might accompany it.

  3. Jimmy Fleck June 24th, 2016 at 09:53

    I would think Cleveland has legitimate concerns on blocking off roads for parades and sound levels of amplified speakers. These affect the citizens of the city that want to go about their business.

    • Mike June 24th, 2016 at 10:05

      Tough call…the people have a 1st amendment right to assemble and be heard. How is it really any different than say a city parade or something like an Olympic or other sports event that upsets the entire flow of traffic and security in a city…Years ago I lived in NYC close to Yankee Stadium…every day or night of a game was mayhem…an extra hour easy on the train.

      • Jimmy Fleck June 24th, 2016 at 10:11

        From the brief snippet above it sounds like Cleveland was allowing for some parades but it was limited to time slots and a specific route. That sounds fair to me.

        • Mike June 24th, 2016 at 10:22

          It was very restrictive (from what I’ve read)….1/2 petitioners were only given 50 minute slots, the other half were denied…that’s barely enough time to get in line for a parade.
          Not sure an inconvenienced neighborhood or city outweighs the rights of 300+ million Americans who want to exercise their 1st amendment right. If the will of the people was more powerful than the constitution, we’d have a couple gun control measures in place by now…

  4. eyelashviper June 24th, 2016 at 10:18

    Given how militarized the Cleveland Police Department is…armored vehicles, massive amounts of riot control bodies and equipment, including the ear piercing sound devices, it could be a real horror show for any protesters. Throw in some armed Gun Humpers For Trump, and it sounds alarming, to say the least.

  5. William June 24th, 2016 at 13:17

    The republicans need to support the second amendment. There is no reason why open carry should not be allowed inside the convention. If guns in schools, shopping centers and bars are ok, then it should be ok for the GOP

  6. Gina Bousquet June 24th, 2016 at 17:47

    The poor city of Cleveland…

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