Following reports Friday that city, state and federal authorities were working to scuttle permits for peaceful demonstrations at Point State Park so it could be used for security operations from Sept. 20-25, more than 70 representatives of dozens of anti-war, labor, environmental, civil rights, prison reform and government watchdog groups met at East Liberty Presbyterian Church to fight for their right to gather, march and speak out against G-20 policies they believe are harmful.
Amid calls that "The Point is the point!" and "Whose park? It's our park!" organizers said they would picket city leaders, hold a peaceful demonstration before Pittsburgh's City Council when it reconvenes and broadcast to the international media that Pittsburgh is declaring de facto martial law Downtown to squelch legal dissent.
"We will build broad support and march no matter what," said Ginny Hildebrand, 60, a Point Breeze volunteer at the Center for Constitutional Rights.
City spokeswoman Joanna Doven said that the Ravenstahl administration is working behind the scenes with the Secret Service — the lead agency in protecting dignitaries during the Sept. 24-25 conference — to ensure that demonstrators have the chance to visibly and loudly protest G-20 leaders within sight of the summit's epicenter, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
"We have not officially denied one permit. Our lawyers continue to work with individuals and groups to meet the requirements of the permitting process. We understand the challenges we have to balance everyone's constitutional right to free speech and assembly with the public's right to safety," Doven said.
The Secret Service in Washington told the Tribune-Review that agents are hoping to hash out with state and local authorities a security blueprint — including the setting of a perimeter to protect international leaders — by early September.
But those who want to demonstrate Downtown say that the sluggish pace of security planning is hampering their efforts to design protest activities. And most at last night's meeting said that they will fight the city to protect constitutional rights for everyone.
"We protest on our terms. We level the demands," said Karl Belin, 20, of Monroeville, a representative of the socialist Workers International League.
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