ACLU calls planned Olympics protest zones inadequate

By The Associated Press

08.02.01

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SALT LAKE CITY — Plans for five downtown free-speech zones during the 2002 Winter Games, with the largest accommodating 100 protesters, are unacceptable, and, if not changed, will be challenged in court, the American Civil Liberties Union said.

City officials announced yesterday that they will allow five protest zones during the games next February, two of them inside the Olympic Square.

Groups that want to demonstrate will have to sign up for a time slot and be issued a permit.

The plan is to allow anyone who wants to voice a gripe peacefully to do so — without disrupting Olympic spectators, said Josh Ewing, spokesman for Mayor Rocky Anderson.

"The way we see it, this is freedom of speech happening in a very peaceful way so that everyone gets their voices heard," Ewing said.

"The plan is completely unacceptable, representing First Amendment tokenism at its worst," said Janelle Eurick, ACLU staff attorney. "There's no way those small numbers can accommodate the numbers coming to Salt Lake City."

She said the sites where 10 protesters will be allowed should handle at least 100, and the Pioneer Park site for 100 protesters should accommodate at least 1,000.

Eurick said that if this is the city's final word, a suit will be filed arguing that the plan is not a reasonable accommodation of the First Amendment rights of any of the demonstrators.

In addition to the five protest zones, individual protest permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis for other areas, Ewing said.

Small groups, such as two people handing out fliers on a street corner, wouldn't need a permit at all, said Scott Folsom, the Salt Lake City Police Department's chief Olympic planner.

"What we're trying to do is establish areas where we know it can be managed," Folsom said.

But following the protests against the G-8 summit in Genoa, Italy, where a demonstrator was killed by police, trouble may come to Salt Lake City for the games.

"Who knows what's going to happen with the people who were in Italy. There's a lot of people who are really angry. They're not going to be happy about signing up for a little time slot," said Bonnie Macri of the Citizens Action Network, a confederation of activist organizations here.

Macri said she thinks at least 2,000 people will come to protest the games.

"Everybody that we know that is coming is coming peacefully," she said. "We're really going to start putting pressure to make sure we don't have the police overreact. Tear gas downtown would be a nightmare."

Olympic security officials have repeatedly said they will work to accommodate those who want to demonstrate peacefully.

They have also promised a robust response if anyone tries to disrupt the Olympics.

The protest groups that may try to share the international media attention focused on the games are varied bunch.

One of the most vocal so far has been the Utah Animal Rights Coalition, which objects to a rodeo that will be part of the Cultural Olympiad, a companion event to the games.

Environmental activists have taken exception to Olympic officials' claim that environmental protection now is one of the key pillars of the games.

Anti-globalization groups decry corporate sponsorship of the event, saying it turns the athletes into vehicles for pushing consumer products.

But security officials say they will try to accommodate them all during the games.

"We've got to be pretty much content neutral. As long as you're not assaultive or disruptive and comply with the rules, it's not our job to censor the message," Folsom said.

Update

Salt Lake City to allow more protesters during Olympics
ACLU official: 'Our preliminary reaction is that the city seems to have taken the responsibility to accommodate free speech seriously.'  11.07.01

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