Today, attorneys from the National Lawyers Guild and the American Civil Liberties Union are filing a complaint in federal court on behalf of the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War. We are seeking a preliminary injunction requiring the City of Saint Paul to grant the “Coalition” a permit for a large anti-war march from the State Capitol to the Xcel Center on September 1, 2008, the first day of the Republican National Convention.

Filing a complaint in Federal Court was not our first choice of action; however, we feel the City of St. Paul has left us little choice. For months, city officials promised that the permit process would continue to move forward - it has not. Instead, on March 1, the “Coalition” received an almost blank Conditional Alternative Permit in which the city neither granted nor denied our permit.

When we sought to appeal the scope of the permit, the City of St. Paul refused to consider the appeal, saying it was premature. The primary explanation we hear from the City for not granting a permit is that they need more time. Time is also of the essence to us in our organizing efforts and that is why we are hopeful that this legal action will expedite the issuance of the permit.

The Coalition applied for permits for the State Capitol, the march route, and Rice Park in October, 2006. We have met with the Mayor, city attorneys, Assistant Chief Matt Bostrom and others several time in order to expedite the process of getting the necessary permits, and to ask for their assurance that demonstrators rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly will be protested during the Republican National Convention. And, yet, today we have nothing of substance in hand, except a set of guidelines which will restrict the rights of protesters at the RNC.

Tens of thousands of people will be coming to St. Paul on September 1st because they know that the Republican National Convention provides a unique opportunity for them to have their voices heard on both the national and international stage; to send a clear message to Democrats and Republicans alike, that the majority of Americans want an end to the illegal and immoral war and occupation of Iraq.

We know that we have a constitutional right to be at the Xcel Center on September 1. We also believe that, as Americans, we have a special obligation to help bring an end to the nightmare that our government has created in Iraq. This war and occupation could well go down in history as a crime against humanity . . . it has stolen the future of the young people of Iraq and, with a $3 trillion price tag and creating an increase in terrorism around the world, it could well steal the future of our children and their children as well.

Because the RNC is being held in our community, local peace and anti-war groups have a special responsibility to assure people coming to St. Paul on September 1 that they will have an opportunity to be heard. Thus, the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War has committed to the more than 100 groups coming to St. Paul in September that we will do everything in our power to see that their rights to freedom of speech and assembly are protected ... that they will be within sight and sound of the Xcel Center ... that they will not be forced into “protest pens” .... that their message that the people of this country are sick and tired of the war mentality of the leaders of this country will be heard.

That is why we are here today and that is why we will continue to pursue all avenues open to us to get a permit guaranteeing us the right to march from the State Capitol to the Xcel Center on September 1, 2008.