City Councils close meetings to the public all the time, especially when the “mob” starts getting feisty.

I’ve often thought that the problem with American governance is at the local level – everyone knows what the feds are doing (they’ve got 300+ million eyeballs on them), people are vaguely aware what the state gov’t is up to (though less so in places like CA, NY & IL), but very few people have any idea what’s going on locally (not enough info, which I think is part of the plan of the local pols).

As a result, the localities are where the shenanigans really seem to happen.

why conservatives do not use the courts like the liberals do. If the gathering is a lawful exercise of freedom of speech, why are conservatives reluctant to exercise our rights to the courts to enforce our rights? If our answer is to complain and “march on the town council”, then our rights will continue to be eroded.

That’s why we have a constitution and the courts. Not using them is tantamount to cutting of our arms.

Do they protestors need to call it something else?
Homeschoolers are great at this, we know what the person in the office needs to see or hear and we present it.
At least homeschooling I’ve found most of these type are doing their job until 4:30. We have to present what they need to see to stamp it and go to lunch, if we can’t comply then we take it up with someone higher, not the receptionist or admin assistant. That is where I’ve seen most homeschoolers that have problems with the actual school district, they didn’t play the paper trail game correctly and they tried to battle it out wtih the wrong person.
Is this man stopping it just doing this job until 4:30? The wrong here was when this law became a law.

I think we all recognize that this sort of thinking cannot continue. Freedom for one — or 500 — is freedom for all. Tyranny against a group of us is tyranny against all of us. That in mind, here is my recommendation:

Get the daytime phone numbers, if possible, for the members of the council who voted to cancel the protest. And PASS THOSE NUMBERS OUT. Get fax numbers and email addresses too, and for the Parks Commission as well. Pass these numbers out to everybody, and select a time — say 10am — for everybody to start calling, emailing and faxing. Flood the office, and the personal/work phones of the city council members, with these calls, emails and faxes telling them they CANNOT rescind the First Amendment.

Is it harrassment? Damn right it is. Do they deserve the chance to do things right before we begin a harrassment campaign? Nope. They had one. It was written into the founding documents of our nation. When they knowingly disregard it, as they are doing now, it is an offense against their own people. They have already, in effect been told “no.”

When a dog continues to disobey after the “no,” it gets smacked with a newspaper. A harrassment campaing is one hell of a big newspaper, and I think, just what the doctor ordered. People, like this city council, who are predisposed to disregarding our natural rights, need a show of strength and resolve. They need to know that the people they work for outnumber them. By a lot. And they (and anyone else who thinks a little bit of power makes them above the Law) need to understand that their countrymen — regardless of state, or voting district — will not tolerate tyranny.

Further, I say, regardless of outcome, everybody should show up anyway. The originator of that area’s tea party has rescinded responsibility, so as of now, it is no longer an organized protest — just a bunch of people showing up at the park with signs.

I realize it’s easy for me to suggest, not being in Florida, but isn’t the whole idea that we’re trying to send a message that we’re not going to stand for overreaching by government, whether it’s taxes or curtailing our individual freedoms (such as the freedom to assemble, to petition the government, etc)?

If we’re really serious about these Tea Parties, and about getting our message out there, wouldn’t it follow that we wouldn’t let the city’s demand for a permit stop us? And again, I realize it’s easier said then done, but at some point we need to take a stand. Show the local government that we don’t recognize their authority to take away our Constitutional right to assemble, and that we don’t need a permit to do so. It is our right, under the laws of this country, and we’re going to show up and protest anyway, permit or not, insurance or not.

Official “Tea Party Rally” (Permitted) alternative (no permits)….

CALL IT A “PATRIOTS NIGHT OUT DOWNTOWN” or whatever, a non-officially organized event that is promoted so as to PROMOTE YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES and make the Tea Party point on the side!

If a couple 100 or 1,000 people all show up in the same general place… then fan out and get in nice polite lines outside on the sidewalks to “get-in” to the local restaurants (that won’t be able to seat them all at once) are the Cops going to demand that they cannot wait in line to eat!?!?!? Overwhelm the local Eateries and be prepared to PATRONIZE THEM and to be patient waiting outside to do so! If you don’t want to Buy A T-Shirt (I’m sure tons of places are selling T-Shirts and such), just print something out on a 8.5×11 paper (sign tips) and double-side tape it to you front and back (or Buy Buttons to wear), carry a small 4th of July sized waving Flag (4″x6″ Gadsden, 4×6″ Culpepper, and more) which you should be able to find in many stores (Dollar stores usually have a few around), simple things that will work to make your point and NOT require a Permit.

RESOURCES:
Tax Day Tea Party site with Daily email update signup
Tea Party Revolution site
ReTeaParty (for 4th of July) site

As it was discussed in another post discussing the local mafia canceling a tea party, someone brought up an important point. Many of the policies now being used to ban these tea parties were instated to combat lefty protests during the “good ole days” . Now theyve been getting in their way for almost 50 years, now when we protest were surprised to find these road blocks in our way. I suggest ignoring them.. Lets get grass roots people seriously.

-Make the tea parties on weekends so people can show up on short notice.
-Create phone trees to be used locally to notify people where to go and when to show up
- if asked by anyone (government employees of any kind especially) why you showed up just say I planned my own 1 person personal protest and STICK TO IT!!!
-This would be optional but to make a point it would do a lot. Anyone who can afford to be, should be arrested. That is, when the police show up to bust up your protest that isnt permitted some people can make a huge stink saying how they have a right to assemble. If you have a right to do something you should hardly have to get a permit to do it. And if you do have to get it a permit it should hardly be this cumbersome. Then those people need to refuse to leave and eventually get arrested for disorderly conduct or some such charge. These people would likely be retirees, independent business owners who can afford the publicity, or may be helped by it, college students etc.
-If we are going to be serious about this civil disobedience of some sort will have to come into play.
- just a suggestion, this is not to be construed as a suggestion to conduct any illegal activity

FTA….
“WINK News spoke to the director of parks for Cape Coral. He says that even now if Rosko is willing to get insurance for the event he’ll likely re-authorize it.”

Geez just get the permit. Parks departments have legit reasons for controlling the uses in parks. And having a 500+ crowd seems like a situation the Parks dept would like to have some control over. Per the article the dept is quite willing to work with the group.

As far as the insurance requirement goes most large groups are required to have it in a park. This includes things such as soccer tourneys, large wedding parties or concerts. Bad things sometimes happen when large groups of people gather at organized event, even with the best of intentions. And a municipality is rightly concerned with it’s liability exposure .

Asked another way if you’re a resident of Coral Cape and someone gets injured at the tea party (or soccer tourney or wedding or concert) do you want your city to be on the hook for a lawsuit?

Are all constitutionally allowed restrictions. It keeps things from getting out of hand. Surely, we don’t want someone to get hurt during these protests. The point is to tell the government overspending is wrong, not to see how much trouble we can cause.

I see it is back on. How did they manage it? It would be nice to know for future reference because these problems are going to keep cropping up. Keep a manual of what to do will make planning and organizing easier next time. You know, so we aren’t surprised at the red tape and have some knowledge of how to navigate it.

>why do they require insurance and not just a CYA the city isn’t responsible form?
*******
As I understand it, and I ain’t a lawyer, those forms that are signed saying you can’t hold a party responsible for injury are basically useless. It’s more of a thing to hold up in court to show an organization has done the minimum to warn people that what they are doing has a risk. But, as I understand, it doesn’t offer much liability protection.

The parking thing is a really a big liability for the city. Suppose the city says “Great, have you 500 person event at a park with parking for 80 people”. Then Ralph goes, has to park along a busy street a mile away and gets run over on the way back. The grieving widow sues the city because it knowing allowed a large event at a park that can’t handle the crowd. How many zeros will be on the end of that check is anybody’s guess. But if the city requires insurance they’re at least partly covered.