By Anne Blythe
ablythe@newsobserver.com
June 13, 2014

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Those arguments will be aired further as the lawsuit progresses through Wake County civil court. But before it is resolved, Fox said the NAACP and others had persuaded him that the threat of arrest for rules that might not be constitutional was reason enough to suspend them temporarily.

Sen. Phil Berger, president pro tem of the N.C. Senate, issued a news release Thursday before the NAACP announced that the lawsuit had been filed. He contended the rule changes are an attempt to “liberalize and clarify archaic and confusing building rules adopted decades ago.”

“For years, we’ve heard feedback that the 30-year-old building rules implemented by previous Democrat leaders were confusing and restrictive,” Berger said in the statement. “We responded to those concerns, and I am baffled why Rev. (William) Barber is now trying to turn back the progress we made in increasing building access and free speech.”

The attorneys for the NAACP can return to court and ask for an extension, but they have to explain why such a measure is necessary.

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“The NAACP is very encouraged by this, mainly because we’ve had many calls from members who are afraid to come,” McSurely said. “People should feel free to come now and not worry about these vague rules.”

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/06/13/3935054/judge-temporarily-suspends-new.html