State agrees to revise public demonstration rules
An ACLU first amendment lawsuit has been settled with the state promising to change its rules concerning public demonstrations on state property to make it easier to exercise first amendment rights.
In the wake of a federal First Amendment lawsuit (ACLU v. Seki), settled on Sept. 5, 2014, the State of Hawaii has agreed to make wholesale revisions to its rules regarding demonstrations on State property, including at the State Capitol.
Effective immediately:
• Individuals or groups (of any size) wishing to demonstrate at the State Capitol (or other property controlled by the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS)) no longer need a permit.
• Demonstrators can have a small table to distribute literature, no permit needed.
• Demonstrators can get a permit, if desired, to reserve a space, but will no longer have to indemnify the state and will not have to obtain insurance if they cannot afford it.
The lawsuit was filed by the ACLU of Hawaii Foundation and the law firm of Chun Kerr, LLP on behalf of plaintiffs Pamela G. Lichty and the ACLU in March of 2014, and documents burdensome requirements for obtaining a permit—including requirements that small groups get the government’s permission before holding a protest; that individuals have to agree to indemnify the State for any injuries arising from their protest (even if the injuries are caused by the protesters’ opponents); and that individuals or groups must apply for a permit weeks in advance (with no exception for spontaneous demonstrations in response to sudden events or news).
The ACLU had been trying to resolve these issues with the State informally since 2010, but the State did not agree to change these permitting requirements until after the lawsuit was filed.
Pamela G. Lichty, President of the Drug Policy Action Group, whose organization ran up against these regulations while planning a rally at the Capitol said, “This settlement is a win for freedom of speech, and for grassroots organizations like ours that need to respond to current events quickly and without layers of government bureaucracy getting in the way of our message.”
“Objective, consistent standards for access to Hawaii’s public spaces will better safeguard equal treatment and equal protection for all community voices—a critical responsibility of government,” said Attorney Alexandra Rosenblatt of Chun Kerr. “We are relieved that DAGS will now have policies that uphold the rights to free speech and assembly as guaranteed in the First Amendment.”