[Seattle-editorial] Article: Has Miami Lost Its Marbles?

[sheelanagig at juno.com]

I posted this to the site on open posting, and now here is the story
formatted for the features page...this is my first submission for the
front page so do not hesitate to give me advice. I think this is relevant
as we need people to email on this NOW! And this ordinance will be used
against us as precence later...

Thanks,
kirsten anderberg

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<P>Has Miami Lost Its Marbles?
<BR>By Kirsten Anderberg

<P>The Miami City Commission is currently trying to pass a “parade and
demonstrations” ordinance, Item J-03-772, that will be valid once passed,
until November 27, 2003. This ordinance is being proposed, due to the
protests that will come with the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)
meeting in Miami, November 17 – 21, 2003. Throughout the text of the
proposed ordinance is a litany of free speech and Constitutional rights
rhetoric, yet everything the ordinance stands for directly conflicts with
the rights it proclaims to take into account. There is a sincere conflict
between the semantics of what the text is saying and the reality of what
it is proposing. 

<P>This ordinance proposal was supposed to be voted upon by Miami City
Commissioners, on Sept. 25, 2003, yet there was a flood of protest from
the public, as well as watchdog groups such as the ACLU. Now the proposal
is tabled for the next Commissioners’ meeting in the beginning of
October, and revisions will supposedly take place between now and then.
Thus, it is CRUCIAL that people call and email these Commissioners to
stop this ordinance from becoming yet another bit of precedence against
free speech in America. Activists fear Miami is stalling regarding the
passage of this ordinance, until the last hour, to just slide it
through...click here for the <a
href=http://wwwhttp://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=33677">
full story</A>. 


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