Multi-group protest planned for Trump's Huntington, WV event

[Tanuki]

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/huntington-streets-areas-to-close-for-trump-rally/article_81e90471-2234-5374-a18d-97e32d0f5043.html

...."Third Avenue between 9th and 10th streets also will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at noon Thursday to accommodate protest groups. This area is one block from the arena. Although this area has been designated for protesters, the city will not prohibit the expression of one's First Amendment rights in any area where the general public is allowed.

A coalition of 13 citizen action groups say they have joined together to protest Trump's policies. This group worked with the city of Huntington and the Huntington Police Department to secure the area between 9th and 10th streets.

Coalition sponsors include Women's March West Virginia: Huntington Huddle, For Ohio's Future, March for Science Huntington, Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Rise Up WV, Service Employees International Union District 1199, Summers County Huddle, Tri State Indivisible, West Virginia Citizen Action Group, West Virginia Indivisible, West Virginia Progressive Alliance and Wood County Indivisible.

Groups in the coalition represent varied interests, but collectively are opposed to policies that potentially harm residents in West Virginia and the Tri-State region, including repeal of the Affordable Care Act, denial of and inaction on climate change, a lack of inclusion and respect of women and an unfulfilled jobs promise that relies on a shrinking coal industry rather than development of a diverse economic base, according to a press release.

Speakers representing groups participating in the "Stand up for American Rights" protest will begin Facebook Live commentary at 4:30 p.m. at the southeast corner of 3rd Avenue and 9th Street."....

[exboyfil]

1. My families hometown

They love him there.

[Tanuki]

2. He won handily last November, but thousands of people in Huntington

voted against him.

[gratuitous]

3. "The city will not prohibit . . . First Amendment rights . . . where the general public is allowed."

Anyone see the loophole in that teensy exception to where your First Amendment rights may be exercised? Since this is a campaign rally, President Trump doesn't have to "allow" your First Amendment rights to be exercised. It's a closed event, and the general public isn't allowed.

[Tanuki]

4. It's not a closed event. It's open to the general public. The same

newspaper published a link a couple of days ago that you could click to obtain up to 2 tickets. You do have to have a ticket to get in. That said, I wouldn't put it past Trump's private goon squad to rough up anyone who exercises their 1st Amendment rights inside the arena, regardless of what city officials may have said. I think they pretty much meant that street protesting would not be limited to that one designated area mentioned in the article.