Burk sues after her request to protest Masters denied

Associated Press

Martha Burk's request to protest at Augusta National's front gate was denied yesterday, prompting her to sue the city to get permission.

Burk rejected a compromise from Sheriff Ronald Strength that would have allowed her to use another nearby location to protest during the third round of the Masters on April 12 in Augusta, Ga.

Instead, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit on Burk's behalf. The suit says Augusta's law regulating public protests violates free-speech rights by investing "virtually unbridled discretion in the sheriff to grant or deny a permit."

The Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition applied through the sheriff for permission to place nearly 100 protesters near the club entrance — the same spot Burk had requested.

Burk, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations, plans to stage a one-day protest against the private golf club's all-male membership.

She asked the sheriff last week for permission to post 24 protesters at the club's front gate and an additional 200 across the street. Strength offered a new location closer to the gate than sites previously proposed by the sheriff, but still not close enough for Burk.

"The men of Augusta National Golf Club come through the front gate," Burk said in Atlanta. "To influence those folks, that's where we need to be."

Strength said the stretch of Washington Road directly facing Augusta National is too clogged by traffic to ensure safe protests.

"Every year with the masses of people around Augusta National Golf Club, we have many auto accidents — some involving pedestrians — during tournament week," Strength said. "We have the right and obligation to balance public safety issues with freedom of speech issues."