Alas, the protesters who are planning on marching at the GOP Convention are up in arms once again over Minneapolis proposal that would require protest groups to apply for a demonstration permit. 

The Star Tribune reports: 

“A proposal to require protest groups to apply for demonstration permits in Minneapolis ran into opposition Wednesday as city officials discussed how to prepare for the Republican National Convention in September.

About 20 protesters held up signs, opposing mandatory permits, during a meeting of a City Council work group on free speech issues and the convention. One option on the table was an ordinance revision, requiring protest groups to get a permit if more than 25 demonstrators were anticipated.”

The working group that is in charge of making recommendations has tabled the issue, so the “I better get what I want or else” crowd can breath a sigh of relief.

The overarching concern of protesting groups at the RNC this year is not if they will be able to assemble and protest, it is if the protesters will allow the RNC the right to peaceably assemble as guaranteed by the First Amendment.  Group after group have said that they will do whatever it takes to disrupt the RNC meeting )as witnessed at the 2004 convention in New York City).  We will have to wait and see if the protesters think that their rights are superior to those of the RNC delegates.