Thou Shalt Not, in Miami

Cities have passed ordinances to restrict the rights of demonstrators before, but Miami is getting pretty ridiculous. Pretty soon they’ll be outlawing unbleached tampons. We’re not sure if they’ll pass this ordinance in its proposed form, but we thought you should know what’s on the table.

“This is an ordinance of the Miami City Commission, Amending Chapter 45 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as Amended, entitled ‘Streets and Sidewalks,’ to establish reasonable time, place and manner regulations concerning materials and objects that may be possessed, carried or used by those participating in parades and demonstrations, and providing for sunset of said regulations at Midnight on Thursday, November 27, 2003.”

The City Council of Miami professes that it wishes to “ensure the safety and security of those viewing, attending or participating in parades, and the public officials and employees responsible for handling or overseeing such events on public property in Miami., to reduce or avoid the possibility of personal injury and property damage.” Since they’ve heard that the “potential exists of civil disturbance and unrest during certain upcoming events” (did they guess right!), they’re suggesting these changes to parade regulations:

It shall be unlawful for a person

1) to carry or possess any weapon (loaded or unloaded), as a pistol, rifle, stick pole, explosives, paintball gun…

2)to carry a sign…unless…constructed solely of cloth, paper or cardboard no greater than 1/4 inch in thickness…

3)to carry or possess any length of lumber, wood or wood lath unless is 1/4 inch in thickness…

4)to carry or possess any length of metal, plastic or similar hard, stiff material…

5-8)…to carry…glass containers… balloons…projectiles…

9)to carry or possess spray paint cans…

10)to carry or possess projectile launchers (slingshots??!!)…

11)…gas masks…

12)…improvised body armor…

13)…sleeping dragon device…or other locking device…

So friends, it’s wacky. We aren’t permitted to parade freely anymore, which makes taking back the streets twice as important. Freedom of speech, free of assembly…they’ll go after it all. Be heard! Resist! Rise up!