CAMPAIGN ’88 : Lottery for Protesters
Atlanta city officials are proposing a lottery to decide demonstration times at the official protest grounds near the site of the Democratic National Convention.
The plan was proposed this week during a meeting with representatives of the Atlanta chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which has criticized the city for being slow to establish procedures for protests.
Atlanta ‘88, the nonprofit committee helping stage the convention, plans to lease a parking lot near the Omni and equip the site with a stage and loudspeakers.
A single lottery to draw times for using the protest area “solves some problems but not others,” said Gene Guerrero, executive director of the local ACLU chapter. “If you have it right before the convention, that means no one can plan.”
However, he added, an early lottery might leave out some protesters late in applying. Two lotteries--one in June and one just before the convention--might be acceptable, Guerrero said.
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