“Pay to protest” rules spark outpouring of opposition

In what’s being called “an amazing showing of united opposition to Trump's anti-protest rules,” labor, civil rights and peace and justice organizations generated more than 60,000 comments on proposed “pay to protest” rules in the nation’s capital. “It has been made clear to the Trump administration that people will not sit back and allow our First Amendment rights to be eviscerated,” said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, which has been coordinating the effort. “This coalition of groups that formed to defend our free speech rights in the nation's capital will be taking the next steps in public outreach, education and pressure -- as well as litigation -- to fight back against the administration's war on protest,” Verheyden-Hilliard said. “We'll see you on the streets AND IN THE PARKS!” added a coalition member. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) on Monday said she will fiercely oppose the new proposals, saying that “charging fees to protest would put a price on free speech and silence those who do not have the means to pay” and vowing that “if the Trump Administration chooses to move forward, they will have to deal with me, my colleagues in Congress and, I believe, the courts, to justify these proposals.” photo: 2016 demo at Trump hotel in DC, on public property owned by the GSA; photo by Chris Garlock

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