[Mpls] Park Board reverses permit policy

[David Brauer]

A longer story will be in our print editions, but I thought list =20
members would like to know first...

Free speech flip-flop

Park Board reverses itself, no permit required to campaign in the parks

By Scott Russell
After taking a public relations beating and reviewing First Amendment =20=

case law, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board administration =20
has reversed itself and will no longer require political candidates =20
to get a permit to hand out literature in the parks.

The new policy also allows advocacy groups =97 pro-choice, pro-life, =20
environmental causes and other non-commercial ventures =97 to =20
distribute literature in the parks without a permit, as long as they =20
have 50 or fewer people, said Don Siggelkow, General Manager for =20
administration and finance.

The decision comes in the wake of a June 8 incident that raised =20
significant free speech issues and drew the skeptical eye of the =20
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Minnesota.

David Brauer
Kingfield
Editor, SW Journal and Skyway News=