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ANSWER Coalition Fined $10,000 for Promoting Sept. 15 March: Stop Government Attacks against AntiWar
by Open-Publishing - Tuesday 14 August 20071 comment
Demos-Actions Movement Wars and conflicts USA
Stop Government Attacks
Against the Anti-War Movement!
ANSWER Fined $10,000 for Promoting Sept. 15 March
The ANSWER Coalition, which initiated the Sept. 15 mass anti-war march in Washington, DC circulated this statement to its supporters after it received more than $10,000 in fines today for putting up antiwar posters in Washington, DC.
In an unprecedented action, the ANSWER Coalition today received citations fining the organization $10,000 for the placement of posters announcing the September 15 March on Washington DC. The fines come after a campaign led by FOX news calling for the DC government to take action against those putting up posters for the September 15 demonstration.
They have told us that we have 72 hours to remove every poster, or the fines will go into effect. Tens of thousands of dollars in additional fines are expected in the coming days. Bush’s Interior Department is threatening similar actions against ANSWER. The September 15 posters are legal and conform to city regulations. We will not allow the government’s intimidation tactics to slow our outreach or silence the antiwar movement.
We can stop this effort to repress the antiwar movement with your help.
This is part of a systematic effort to disrupt the organizing for the September 15 Mass March that is timed to coincide with the report of General Petraeus and the debate in Congress on the Iraq war. Iraq war veterans and their families will lead this dramatic march from the White House to the Congress on September 15. The last thing the government wants is to see the streets of Washington DC fill up with throngs of anti-war protesters right in the middle of the debate. But we will not be stopped. Organizing for this demonstration is taking place in cities and towns throughout the country. Buses and car caravans are coming from 90 cities and towns.
Please send a letter today to Washington DC Mayor (Adrian M. Fenty) and to the Director of DC Department of Public Works (William O. Howland, Jr.) demanding an end to the fines, harassment and repression of the anti-war movement. We have a right to publicize the September 15 March. Fining the anti-war movement tens of thousands of dollars for putting up Free Speech-protected literature makes a mockery out of the First Amendment.
Forum posts
15 August 2007, 02:09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: LINDA GRANT
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 (202) 671-2375/desk
(202) 497-1080/cell
Linda.grant@dc.gov
DPW STATEMENT REGARDING FINES LEVIED FOR IMPROPERLY POSTED ANTI-WAR POSTERS
*
DC regulations (DCMR Title 24, Section 108) provide guidelines
for posting signs in public space. The regulations balance free speech
with keeping the city neat by: 1. supporting the right to free speech
by giving people access to public space to express themselves; and 2.
Keeping the public space from appearing cluttered by limiting the
number of signs per block. The District hosts marches and protests all
the time and we never weigh in on the merits of the issues, rather our
role is to keep the city neat.
*
DPW asks people to respect District of Columbia residents by
following the guidelines.
*
These posters were improperly placed for the following reasons:
o
More than three signs were posted on one side of a block,
the guidelines limit the number to three. (108.10)
o
The posters were placed on more than lampposts, which is
the only place where they are allowed. (100, which says if the site is
not mentioned, posters cannot be placed there.)
o
The posters were fixed to lampposts and utility boxes
using an adhesive, which is not allowed. The larger posters are taking
20 to 30 minutes to remove. (108.9)
o
The posters do not provide the date they were placed. (108.7)
o
No one filed two copies of the materials with the Mayor’s
DC government designee (Office of Surface Permits). The filing should
be made within 24 hours of posting each sign and include the name,
address, and telephone number of the posters’ originator. (108.11)