PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Free Speech for Richmond's May Day!
  1. Signatures
    397 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Richmond City Mayor (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Richmond City Mayor (Mayor Dwight C. Jones)
      • Richmond City Chief of Police (Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood)
      • Secratary to the Mayor (Secratary to the Mayor Cheryl Green)
  2. Created By
    Richmond May Day Organizing Committee
About this Petition Petition Letter

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE] Richmond May Day 2010 VICTORY For Free Speech!

Good News!  Due to the success of an action taken by hundreds of activists in solidarity with Richmond May Day 2010 through a 24 hour letter writing campaign, with over 350 signatures, targeting Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood (Richmond City Chief of Police) and Mayor Dwight C. Jones (Richmond City Mayor) we were granted a permit allowing the use of the street to march. 

The letter was concerning their requirement that organizers be responsible for the hiring of off duty police officers, an infringement on our First Amendment Right to free speech and freedom of assembly. Without all of your diligent solidarity and action including the experience and advising efforts of the Virginia ACLU and Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, we have avoided a potentially dangerous situation. The city has granted two police vehicles at no cost to the organizers as an escort to Richmond May Day Parade 2010.

We still plan to work closely with the ACLU from this point forward to insure that anyone else who wishes to exercise their First Amendment Rights may do so without the deterrent of any government ordinance requiring payment to do so. 

In Solidarity,
Richmond May Day Organizing Committee 2010

 

Recent Signatures

Free Speech for Richmond's May Day!

Dear Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood:

I am writing to protest the fact that the Richmond Police Department is attempting to deny a parade permit to organizers of a Richmond May Day Parade planned for this coming Saturday, first by failing to respond to the organizers' permit application within the time limit imposed by city law, and second by demanding that the organizers first agree to hire two off-duty police officers, a requirement not included in the relevant city ordinance. I urge the City of Richmond to do the right thing, respect the First Amendment right to peacefully assemble and immediately grant the parade permit.


Cc:

The New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, Richmond Free Press, Richmond Voice The Virginia Defender, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Style Weekly, WRIR, Richmond-area Clear Channel radio stations, WTVR Channel 6, WRIC Channel 8, NBC Channel 12, May Day 2010 Richmond Organizing Committee



Sincerely,

[Your name]

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