Cleveland grants speaking, park use permits for Westboro Baptist Church and others during Republican National Convention

http://www.cleveland.com/rnc-2016/index.ssf/2016/06/cleveland_grants_speaking_park.html

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland officials have granted permits to 20 individuals and groups who want to publicly demonstrate during July's Republican National Convention.Among those who received permits this week: the Westboro Baptist Church, the virulently anti-gay, Kansas-based group best-known for protesting military funerals.

The church was granted a half-hour slot on the city's planned "speakers platform" in Public Square starting at 5 p.m. on July 19. The city also granted the group an all-day permit for the next day to set up in Perk Plaza, the downtown park.The city granted the permits on June 13 and June 14 and posted them online. The GOP convention is scheduled for July 18-21.A message to a spokesman for Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson was not immediately returned. Under pressure from activists, Cleveland officials on May 25 set up a process for groups to file for permits to use the platform, and/or set up in either Willard Park or Perk Plaza and/or march along a designated "parade route" across the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge toward downtown.

An estimated 50,000 people and a significant number of protesters are expected to come to Cleveland during the GOP convention.The city's online posting did not contain any approved "parade" permits. Acting on behalf of three groups seeking to march in Cleveland during the GOP convention, the ACLU of Ohio this week sued Cleveland for not yet acting to grant or reject any parade permits.Here are the other groups and individuals granted permits this week:

Andrew Purchin, of Santa Cruz, Calif. (Event name: "The Curious End to the War Against Ourselves")Willard Park, 9:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., July 20, 21

BlackOnBlackCleveland.com Speakers platform: 11-11:30 a.m. on July 18; 1:15-1:45 p.m. on July 19

Bring Ohio BackSpeakers platform: 5:45-6:15 p.m. on July 18; 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on July 19; 2-2:30 p.m. on July 20; 5-5:30 p.m. on July 21

Code Pink Women for PeaceSpeakers platform: 11-11:30 p.m., July 20

Don Bryant (Event name: "Peace in the Park")Speakers platform: 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., July 20

Gaye Lub of Saint Helena, CalifWillard Park: 9:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. on July 18-21

Greater Cleveland Immigration Network (Event name: "Community Unity")Speakers platform: 4:15-4:45 p.m., July 19

Imperial Women's CoalitionSpeakers platform: 9:30-10 a.m., 12:30-1 p.m., July 18

Justin Longwell, of Oberlin, OhioSpeakers platform: 5:45-6:15 p.m., July 21

League of Women Voters of Greater ClevelandWillard Park: 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m., July 18-21

Northeast Ohio American Friends Service CommitteeSpeakers platform, 5-5:30 p.m., July 20

People Fight Back Center/March Against RacismWillard Park: 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m., July 21

Pierre Nappier, of ClevelandSpeakers platform: 12:30-1 p.m., July 21

Revolution BooksPerk Plaza and Willard Park, 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m, July 18-21

Rose Hamid, of Charlotte, N.C. (Event name: "Salam, I Come in Peace")Speakers platform: 11:45 p.m.-12:15 p.m., July 18

Stand Together Against Trump Speakers platform: 5-5:30 p.m. on July 18; 5:45-6:15 p.m. on July 20Scott Roger Hurley, of ClevelandSpeakers platform: 10:15-10:45 a.m., July 18

Thomas Moran, of Fenton, Mich. (Event name: "Stop Trump")Perk Plaza: 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m., July 18, 19

Valarie Robinson, of Cleveland HeightsSpeakers platform: 12:30-1 p.m., July 19