Cleveland Relaxes Rules on Protests Near GOP Convention Site

By Rebecca Savransky, The Hill

30 June 16

he American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is hailing eased restrictions on protesters at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland as a “victory for free speech.”

City officials on Wednesday reduced the restricted zone surrounding the convention, changed a parade route for demonstrators to increase visibility and increased the times available to apply for parade permits.

“This agreement prevents the 2016 [convention] from being defined by an unnecessary conflict between freedom and security,” said Christine Link, executive director for the ACLU of Ohio, in a statement.

“The [convention] offers a unique stage to groups from all sides of the political spectrum to lift their voices to a national audience. The new rules ensures that people have meaningful opportunities to express themselves on some of our most important national issues.”

Cleveland’s Board of Control approved the revisions after a federal judge ruled that the original restricted zone was "unduly large" and said other constraints placed a burden on speech and assembly.

The judge ruled the city should revise the restrictions through mediation with the ACLU, which had sued the city.

Link said the settlement between the city and the ACLU was a "significant improvement" from what the city had previously put forward.

Link called participation and political expression the "foundation of our democracy," adding that the ACLU will continue to monitor the situation during the convention to ensure people's rights are protected.

“Both the city and the courts recognized that these rules needed to be changed," she said.

"This is an important victory for everyone who wants to take an active role in the decisions that affect their lives."