GENERAL

This site has a few links to legal resources. State pages, for example, may have legal links or info.

Legal issues associated with political demonstrations may involve free speecsh rights, property rights and dealing with authoritarian systems and individuals. A good organizer or organizing team will research local laws and work with authorities to ensure a productive event.

Authorities

Public picketing is completely legal, and subject to just a few regulations. If someone hassles you, keep cool. Remember, as an organizer, you need to have a regular presence, so be cautiously aggressive about securing you rights. Most of the sorts of conflicts you are likely to encounter are best dealt with in well planned steps.

Rights

Rights are to be exercised. If an authoritarian is wrongly hindering your expression, you may have recourse. Shouting about your rights is often the least effective way of securing them. Maintain your dignity.

Permits

Some cities may require permits in order that they can plan for your event. Permits exist to help authorities dealing with your event. Whether you intend to use a sound system should be noted in your application.

Letter: You don't need a permit anywhere to make a statement about the president - only if you are taking over a public road or park or erecting something etc. You never need a permit to simply hold up a sign on public property for people to see. You don't need the city's permission to make a puzsblic political statement. (from an Impeach discussion list)

Use Your Connections

Cheney and Bush are tremendously uncool. That's why it's easy to find people to help you. Organizers can bring extra signs for the many strangers who may join in the display. Seek helpful contacts in local Government.

If you have a specific problem, please feel free to bring it to our attention through our feedback area.

TALKING POINTS

Disturbing the Peace

Disturbing the peace and similar charges are not applicable to free speech. Here's an account from an organizer, of how police can use this threat.

...The reception was hugely positive from both motorists and pedestrians. ...We were joined by a police officer. After about 15 minutes of just standing next to us, he informed me that unnecessary honking was in violation of both state law and local ordinance. He indicated that he would shortly begin citing motorists who honked. After clarifying that we were not considered to be in violation of any law, we decided to leave so as not to be party to innocent drivers being cited.

By the way, I did get at least 7 fingers. Makes life exciting. Peace, Herb

Herb probably did the right thing this week. He acted cautiously. But we can't let one cop shut this movement down. Police acting in this way are risking viloating the Constitution, and that can be big trouble for them. Whatever law is invoked, if it is invoked to disrupt or discourage public political speech, it is being misused. First, argue the law on it's face. (i.e. The honking is necessary.)

When Herb meets with his Police Department, I expect he will remind them that:

A) This is constitutionally protected expression of a purely political nature.
B) That ticketing drivers could "create the appearance" that there's a partisan enforcement issue here, the sort of thing that can stir up trouble.
C) That our Lawyer will use the public record to fight the tickets by all means available, including contacting the Defendants to build a unified defense strategy that may include court solidarity, movement building and civil disobedience.

I told Herb to keep it up, use some imagination, and keep up the good Honk. -Editor, honktoimpeach.org