ACLU/EM PROTECTS PROTESTERS' RIGHTS DURING BUSH VISIT
St. Louis, August 26, 2003: In response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri today, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri and the St. Louis City Counselor said that protesters seeking to demonstrate outside the St. Louis Convention Center during a visit by President George W. Bush will not be forced into "designated protest zones" as they had been during past presidential visits. Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Limbaugh, government officials said that they would not forcibly move protesters to a zone set up east of the convention center, well away from the center's main entrance.
"The U.S. Attorney and City Counselor represented today that dissenters will be treated the same as supporters of the President, which is exactly what we wanted in the first place," said ACLU of Eastern Missouri Executive Director Matt LeMieux. "This is a victory for free speech."
Judge Limbaugh noted that the government planned to use a "designated protest zone" for this visit, but decided not to issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) after government attorneys promised that no one would be forced to move to the protest zone. The judge also acknowledged, without objection from ACLU-EM attorneys, that there would be a secure area immediately around parts of the convention center into which no one could enter without proper credentials.
"Other than the secured area, anyone can be outside and will not be required to go to a particular place," said Judge Limbaugh in his ruling from the bench.
Today's ruling only resolves the issue of whether an emergency order was necessary to protect the rights of protesters during today's presidential visit. The issue of whether "designated protest zones" can be used during future presidential visits will be reviewed by Judge Limbaugh at a later date.