Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:32 pm
Miami needs help
We're looking for any exscn or person who doesn't mind showing their face and name (probably because they've already got it).
Miami is a small group, and we believe this is mostly because the police are giving us trouble about the masks. While they seem to be giving us minimal grief over the sunglasses and dustmask routine, we feel it is important to get the full mask approved and the reason why we wear masks understood and supported.
Wearing the Guy Fawkes masks gives the protest a visual sense of unity and makes a better statement. But the “Fair Game” policy is the real reason we need these masks.
Police and Gov types like having a face, name, contact info… and that’s something we just can’t give them safely. I feel if there was anyone we could contact, who would be willing to protest and speak to the police and gain any permits and such necessary.
Now I remember reading somewhere that Florida DOES allow masks, but the link was on a thread from a previous protest which has since been deleted from the message board. I’m in the process of researching more information along those lines. But the local police are saying no to masks, or some say partial masks only. We want to clear up these mixed signals. We feel once that is settled, Miami might have more people show up. Orlando and Clearwater successfully won the right to wear their masks, I feel we should also.
"You have the right to wear a mask while engaging in a protest. But in Florida, wearing a mask or concealing your identity while engaging in criminal activity or racially-motivated intimidation may result in criminal charges and a separate set of penalties."
That protester's rights booklet also says if the police ask for ID we have to show it. I wonder if it's illegal for them to share it unless charges are being pressed. In which case, I would also take said officer's name (and see their badge to know if they were real police) so that if the name were to fall into the wrong hands, I would have a place to start.
If anyone can help, we would appreciate it. Thank you!
Miami is a small group, and we believe this is mostly because the police are giving us trouble about the masks. While they seem to be giving us minimal grief over the sunglasses and dustmask routine, we feel it is important to get the full mask approved and the reason why we wear masks understood and supported.
Wearing the Guy Fawkes masks gives the protest a visual sense of unity and makes a better statement. But the “Fair Game” policy is the real reason we need these masks.
Police and Gov types like having a face, name, contact info… and that’s something we just can’t give them safely. I feel if there was anyone we could contact, who would be willing to protest and speak to the police and gain any permits and such necessary.
Now I remember reading somewhere that Florida DOES allow masks, but the link was on a thread from a previous protest which has since been deleted from the message board. I’m in the process of researching more information along those lines. But the local police are saying no to masks, or some say partial masks only. We want to clear up these mixed signals. We feel once that is settled, Miami might have more people show up. Orlando and Clearwater successfully won the right to wear their masks, I feel we should also.
"You have the right to wear a mask while engaging in a protest. But in Florida, wearing a mask or concealing your identity while engaging in criminal activity or racially-motivated intimidation may result in criminal charges and a separate set of penalties."
That protester's rights booklet also says if the police ask for ID we have to show it. I wonder if it's illegal for them to share it unless charges are being pressed. In which case, I would also take said officer's name (and see their badge to know if they were real police) so that if the name were to fall into the wrong hands, I would have a place to start.
If anyone can help, we would appreciate it. Thank you!
