An Aug. 14 announcement that most of their protest permits had been denied brought television cameras to groups who’d previously attracted little attention. By Aug. 18, these groups — from Code Pink to Iraq Veterans Against the War — announced plans to ask Pittsburgh City Council for a resolution supporting their right to free speech “in a place where we will be seen and heard,” according to a letter delivered to council. The groups asked for a second resolution that “holds law enforcement accountable to a use of force policy to ensure that demonstrators are not abused.”
They also successfully petitioned council to hold a public hearing on free-speech rights during G-20. That hearing has not yet been scheduled, but activists may not wait to be heard.
