Sacramento is working behind the scenes to prevent Occupyers like Michael Nettles from protesting.
Homeless, Nettles joined Occupy Sacramento on the front lawn of City Hall about a month ago, and he hasn’t left yet. He remains camped out, passing out flyers during the day, and News Review.Com says he has no intention of leaving.
Nettle’s told NR he believes what he’s doing is a way people can participate in their own government.
But Sacramento believes it should be stopped. It plans to vote on a law next month that would ban cowbells, sponge baths, confetti, smoke machines and chalk and would further restrict activism like Nettles’ by requiring permits and time limits on planned protests - plus a stiff fine for violations.
But how's a homeless person supposed to afford that? Speech isn't free if you have to buy a permit to express your views.
Tell Sacramento, don’t ban protesters.
We, the undersigned, are opposed to Sacramento’s new plan to limit expression of free speech.
Cres Vellucci, with Sacramento’s American Civil Liberties Union told the press that the new law is obviously targeting the Occupy movement, and if the city passes the planned ordinance, opponents, including the ACLU, will likely file a lawsuit to block it.
On top of undermining freedom of speech and the right to assemble and protest, the plan will end up costing the city large sums for litigation that would be better spent trying to solve the issues that are fueling the protests in the first place - the devastating effects of poverty, corporate corruption and economic inequality.
Speech isn’t free if you have to pay for a permit to express it. Please don’t adopt a law that would restrict the public‘s right to protest.
Thanks for your time.
