Letter from press conference organizer: Update on permit ban press conference Hey Folks, I want to send my deepest thanks to everyone who was able to come to the press conference last night about the amplified sound permit ban. Also to those who were supportive, but couldn't be there. We still have to stay on top of this issue because the Parks Dept may ban all permits until they work out a solution to neighbors complaints about raves and parties in city parks. The main problem with this is that those folks are not likely applying for sound permits to do these things in the park. We apply for permits for the October 22 National Day of Protest a month in advance. We don't just show up at a park and commence to making noise. They did grant our permit to have amplified sound thanks to ACLU attorney Randall Kallinen being on top of this situation. Many thanks to Randall for all his efforts. It was discovered that the ban on permits came from an internal memo at the Parks Dept. Now they are playing the "blame game" at the expense of our civil rights, since they may ban all permits and only issue them "selectively". No law or ordinance was passed to ban permits, just a memo. That is how easily our rights can be diminished. There was good coverage by the Houston Chronicle and KHOU Chan 11. Hopefully, they will followup on this. I will keep you posted on the outcome, and again I want to thank everyone for coming together on this issue. We have some fantastic folks in this town, and I am glad to be a part of such a diverse group that can come together on issues of such importance. Thanks to you all, Diane Bossom O22houston@ev1.net October 22 Coalition Houston Copwatch www.houstoncopwatch.org --- In NewPacifica@yahoogroups.com, "Edwin Johnston" <edi@h...> wrote: > Top story in the Houston Chronicle today on how activists and a lawyer for > the Houston ACLU defeated a secret plan to ban amplified sound from all but > 3 Houston parks. > This issue is an ongoing struggle in Houston for many years, in regards to > sound permits at protests, legal limits for sound ampification at niteclubs > and outdoor events (like the stage in the backyard at KPFT), etc. > The pressing issue for the group was the coming annual protest against > police brutality that begins at Market Square Park and marches to the front > of police headquarters downtown. Also present at the press conference was > KPFT founder/programmer Ray Hill. > > Groups vocal over amplified-sound ban > Prohibition on park permits is rescinded > By MATT SCHWARTZ > http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/2127894 > > Photo of press conference: > http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/03/09/30/parks_front.jpg > Caption: > Diane Bossom of Houston Copwatch, an anti-police-brutality group, Randall > Kallinen of the ACLU, far right, and Ray Hall, [Hill] left, meet at Market > Square Park Monday to protest a decision by the city to bar bullhorns in > Houston parks. The city backed off on the policy later Monday. > > Listed as lead story on today's homepage: > http://www.chron.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/xYTolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> New Pacifica Working Group http://www.egroups.com/group/NewPacifica 'Save Our Stations!' To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: NewPacifica-unsubscribe@egroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
