Plan To Make Protesters In Washington Pay Fee Infringes On Free Speech - Advocacy Groups

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th October, 2018) A proposal by the US National Service to force protesters to pay fees for demonstrating in the capital would infringe on Americans' right to free speech and assembly, dozens of enviornmental, rights and advocacy groups said in a letter published on Monday.

"This proposal would infringe on Americans' rights to free speech and assembly. Forcing Americans to pay to lawfully assemble at our most iconic and politically significant sites places a financial barrier that precludes equal opportunity and access, dissuading and prohibiting Americans from demonstrating," the groups said in a letter to National Mall and Memorial Parks Chief of Staff Brian Joyner.

The letter was referring to a plan by the US National Park Services that would make demonstrators pay a fee to demonstrate at the National Mall, Memorial Parks and President's Park near the White House, all of which have served as venues for major protests.

The letter was signed by more than 80 advocacy groups, including Human Rights Watch, the Anti-Defamation League, the Environmental Defense Fund, Veterans for Peace and the Women's March and published on several of the groups' websites.

The groups urge Joyner to revise the proposed rule and maintain access to democracy for all US citizens regardless of socioeconomic status or support from wealthy donors, the letter said.

The proposal was issued on August 7 to revise the protest permitting process at Washington-based parks that have been home to major civil rights, human rights, environmental, and other demonstrations throughout US history, including Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial.