WASHINGTON DC- A major victory has occurred for The World Can't Wait--Drive Out the Bush Regime protest organizers. Previously, the federal government had denied a permit for a Jan 31 demonstration around the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool, claiming security issues. Now, after demonstrators filed a lawsuit, the government is changing their mind.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ariel Vegosen 516-732-0579
January 26, 2006 arielvegosen@yahoo.com
Travis Morales 713-240-3192
travismorales@symet.net
Demonstrators' Lawsuit Prompts Granting of Permit for Protest at the State of the Union:
The State of the Union is a State of Emergency: Thousands Will Rally on Jan 31 and Feb 4 to Drive Out the Bush Regime
WASHINGTON DC- A major victory has occurred for The World Can't Wait--Drive Out the Bush Regime protest organizers. Previously, the federal government had denied a permit for a Jan 31 demonstration around the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool, claiming security issues. Now, after demonstrators filed a lawsuit, the government is changing their mind.
Organizers had been told on January 10 they could get a permit for the Reflecting Pool; on January 19th, that area was suddenly declared a "special security zone" and off limits to the public. The World Can't Wait filed suit in federal district court yesterday seeking court protection of the First Amendment right to protest. This morning, after a story in the Washington Post reported the suit, park and police officials met organizers at the contested area, and offered the Reflecting Pool as a rally site.
Travis Morales, one of the organizers of the demonstration said, "This was a big win for the people's right to dissent and protest what this regime is doing. The Bush regime was forced to back down. Now it's time for Bush to step down. Now is the time to come out and make this demand right at the Capitol as Bush speaks inside."
On Tues. Jan 31 at 8pm demonstrators will gather at the West Side of the Capital on the National Mall to demand an end to the Bush regime. Speakers will include Cindy Sheehan, Ann Wright, Doug Nelson, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Rev. Deborah Lake.
Just as Bush starts to speak, people will bring the noise, politically drowning out his address with drums and violins, banging pots, sounding car horns and lifting voices, demanding: "Bush step down and take your program with you." Similar rallies will take place in 60+ cities across the country.
On Sat Feb. 4, thousands of people will travel to Washington DC from across the country to join locals in demanding that Bush step down from office. At 11am protestors will gather at 17th and Constitution and at 2pm will march to the White House.
For more information go to www.worldcantwait.org
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Speech Protesters Granted Spot
Capitol Area Allowed for State of Union
By Karlyn Barker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 27, 2006; B02
Organizers of a planned protest during President Bush's State of the Union address next week reached an agreement yesterday with law enforcement officials and will now be allowed to use the area around the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool for their demonstration.
The demonstrators had initially been offered the Reflecting Pool area on the west side of the Capitol as a protest site but then were told that the site had been reclassified as part of the security perimeter for the day of Bush's speech.
Organizers of the Tuesday protest, called "World Can't Wait -- Drive Out the Bush Regime," filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday seeking a court order to let them hold the gathering at the Reflecting Pool. They met yesterday with police and government representatives to resolve the issue.
"The Capitol Police reassessed its security concerns regarding the area around the Capitol Reflecting Pool and withdrew its request to the U.S. Park Service to close that area during President Bush's State of the Union address," said Channing Phillips, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, which participated in discussions to settle the dispute.
Phillips said the nearby grassy areas on the Capitol grounds are fenced off because of turf renovation. But he said the amended permit, which will be issued by the National Park Service, will be sufficient for the group's needs.
James R. Klimaski, an attorney for the demonstrators, said the lawsuit will be withdrawn as soon as the group receives the amended permit. A hearing was held before U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina yesterday to tell him that the matter had been resolved.
The protest group said it was told Jan. 10 that it could use the area around the Capitol Reflecting Pool for a demonstration timed to coincide with Bush's 9 p.m. address to Congress. But on Jan. 19, organizers were told that the U.S. Capitol Police had expanded the security area to include the Reflecting Pool and that they would have to confine the demonstration to the gravel walkways between Third and Fourth streets on the Mall. The other option was to gather at Seventh Street, about a mile from the Capitol.
"A protest not seen and a protest not heard is not a protest," said Travis Morales, one of the organizers of the demonstration, who accused the Bush administration of trying to keep demonstrators far from the Capitol. He said yesterday that the Reflecting Pool area "will hold thousands more people" than the gravel walkways.
Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Capitol Police, gave no explanation yesterday for the change of position. The department, she said, "constantly re-evaluates security requirements leading up to large events."
© 2006 The Washington Post Company
