Suit Challenges Secret Service Protest Zones - October 6, 2003 Vol.4 No.20

October 6, 2003 Vol.4 No.20:

Published: 10/06/2003

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Suit Challenges Secret Service Protest Zones

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing four national advocacy groups, filed a federal suit against the Secret Service on Sept. 23.

The ACLU charges the Secret Service with a “pattern and practice” of discrimination against protesters that violates their free speech rights. The suit seeks an injunction banning the Secret Service and local police from confining protesters that disagree with administration policies to areas that are both away from view of public officials and the press. At the same time, people who support the President are allowed to roam outside of the zone and be seen. In some cases all demonstrators have been confined to “protest zones”. However, only demonstrators against the President’s policies have been arrested when leaving the zone.

The suit was filed on behalf of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), United for Peace and Justice, USAction and the National Organization of Women in the eastern district of Pennsylvania. However, the suit challenges the practice nationwide, citing more than a dozen examples in eleven states. Local police have testified that the practice has been ordered by the Secret Service. These and similar incidents are also detailed in a May ACLU report Freedom Under Fire: Dissent in Post-9/11 America.

The complaint in ACORN et. al. v. City of Philadelphia et. al., Civil Action No. 03-4312 can be downloaded from the ACLU website.