“This new rule is not reflective of American values or history to peacefully protest.”The National Park Service issues about 750 permits a year for demonstrations within the National Mall and at nearby parks. National Park Service Spokesman Brent Everitt said the agency will always support the First Amendment right of free speech and assembly. Everitt said the National Park Service is not recommending charging a fee for demonstrations, but raising the question of whether it should. The ACLU’s chapter in the District of Columbia said many of the changes the National Park Service is considering would be unconstitutional if adopted. “The National Park Service cannot seek to balance its budget on the backs of people seeking to exercise their constitutional rights,” Spitzer said.

Source: National Post October 13, 2018 05:15 UTC