Free speech win over demonstrations at state Capitol

A permit to protest has been the practice for decades.

Click here to watch Catherine Cruz's report.

Groups planning to demonstrate for or against bills under consideration at the capitol had to first ask permission.

"The new rules make it easier for groups to exercise their First Amendment rights," said American Civil Liberties Union attorney Dan Gluck.

The ACLU filed suit earlier this year after trying for three years to informally work out the permit problem with the state.

The two sides reached a settlement this month agreeing to drop the requirement that groups apply for permits, indemnify the state and obtain insurance in order to gather at the rotunda.

"As a general rule you don't have to get the government's permission before you exercise your First Amendment rights. You dont have to get the government's okay to have a demonstration, and a lot of these rules impacted people's ability to do that," said Gluck.

That lawsuit was brought by the ACLU on behalf of The Drug Policy Action Group which ran up against the roadblocks trying to organize a demonstration.

Pam Licthy called the settlement a win for grassroots groups who need to respond quickly without bureaucracy getting in the way of the message.

The state attorney general David Louie issued this statement.

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Free speech win over demonstrations at state Capitol