Posted on: Monday, October 15, 2001

Editorial
Public speech rights get a positive boost

In this era of high-level concerns about security-driven restrictions on civil liberties, it was heartening to hear of a settlement between the American Civil Liberties Union and the city over public activities.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by the ACLU in April against certain restrictions imposed by the city on public protests aimed at the meeting of the Asian Development Bank.

The two sides came up with a new set of regulations that go a long way toward preserving the public right of free expression without sacrificing safety or public order.

Many of the changes were long overdue. They involve making it simpler and quicker to get the necessary permits for rallies, parades and the like.

For instance, permits for public rallies must now be filed just three days in advance instead of three weeks. In some cases, involving breaking current events, a permit can be obtained in just 24 hours.

Government officials have an interest in, and a duty to, preserving public order. So some form of regulatory process is necessary for mass public events.

But the process should be designed to promote this vital exercise in free speech, not thwart it. The new rules go a long way toward achieving that.