"The National Park Service announced Monday it is withdrawing a proposal that could have made protesters repay the federal government for the cost of security at demonstrations.
Opponents said the measure would have saddled protest organizers with enormous costs, crippling their ability to protest and exercise their rights under the Constitution. The proposal would have affected gatherings on the Mall, at President’s Park, around the White House and on other federal land in the Washington area.
To obtain a permit for a protest in the District, organizers already are required to provide amenities to demonstrators, such as toilets, medical tents and cooling stations for hot days. The Park Service proposal to charge for security, announced in August 2018, would have added a hefty price tag for organizers of larger events."
Michael E. Ruane and Marissa J. Lang report for the Washington Post October 28, 2019.
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