Protest group appeals RNC parade permit

A protest group that plans to march on the first day of the Republican National Convention says the permit fails to include a march route.

By CHRIS HAVENS, Star Tribune

March 7, 2008 at 5:46AM

A protest group that plans to march on the first day of the Republican National Convention has appealed a conditional permit issued by the St. Paul Police Department because the permit fails to include a march route.

The group, the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, says it is seeking a parade route that gets demonstrators within "sight and sound" of the Xcel Energy Center, where the convention is being held Sept. 1-4. The coalition says that as many as 50,000 might show up.

The "conditional alternative" permit doesn't have any details on the time, length or location for the parade, and the group says police are taking too long to make those decisions.

The appeal was filed Thursday by attorneys for the state American Civil Liberties Union and Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. The group wants the City Council to grant the permit in full and tell police to issue a completed document.

City Council President Kathy Lantry declined to comment until the appeal comes before the council, which likely will happen on Wednesday.

Teresa Nelson, general counsel for the state ACLU, said that if the council denies the appeal, lawyers for the protesters could sue.

"I am aware of the appeal and, ultimately, this is a legal decision that the City Council will have to address. I'm confident that this was the appropriate decision and the appeal is without merit," said Matt Bostrom, the assistant police chief in charge of security planning.

Police said they would have a parade route selected no later than May 31. City officials have said they have no intention of denying free speech.

Staff writer Randy Furst contributed to this report. Chris Havens • 651-298-1542

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CHRIS HAVENS, Star Tribune