Judge says protesters don't need proximity

Judge says protesters don't need proximity

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Modern technology allows for many ways of exercising First Amendment protections so protesters don't have to be close to what they are protesting, a judge said.

U.S. District Judge Gary Lancaster ruled Thursday Pittsburgh cannot prohibit anti-war protesters from setting up a tent city in Point State Park in the days before next week's Group of 20 economic summit, but can disallow other overnight encampments in city parks and a rally on the Seventh Street Bridge.

He cited advances of modern technology which provide many ways to speak publicly when he approved the city's request to keep people off the bridge for security and public-safety concerns.

"We think it was reasonable," city attorney Michael Kennedy said about the judge's ruling. "We think it was legally based, and we think it upheld many of the issues that we were concerned about."

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/09/18/Judge-says-protesters-dont-need-proximity/UPI-35731253324089/

Riiiiight.

If I was in Pittsburgh I would be out there protesting, this judge is shredding the Constitution and his ruling needs to be defied. No technology that the average protester can afford could ever reach the same group of people that a protest can, sure you can write blogs and it is great to do so but you are only going to reach the people who choose to read your blog you are not going to be seen by the general public.

Yeah, like making dissent a crime.