ST. PAUL, Minn. — A federal judge in Minneapolis sided with St. Paul city and police leaders Wednesday in rejecting a protest group’s attempt to get closer in time and space to the upcoming Republican National Convention.
Judge Joan Ericksen said government officials have security reasons to justify the restrictions on the permit for the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War.
The group plans to march in St. Paul on Sept. 1, the first day of the convention. A city permit keeps marchers at least 84 feet away from the arena’s doors and orders them to clear the streets around the arena by midafternoon. The coalition is expecting 30,000 to 50,000 people to participate.
Ericksen said the restrictions are content-neutral and don’t quell free speech.
