Oppose no protest zones in Florida (non-residents can help too!)

[carols]

Friends,
While this is playing out in St. Petersburg you do not need to be a St. Pete resident - or even a Florida resident - to take the first two actions below. (Please especially take a moment to review the 2nd action if you are a non-resident - it's fun for the whole family!) This is the proverbial slippery slope and we do not want to set a precendent that says we don't mind being moved off public property at the whim of Big Corporations. Please, please send a letter to St. Pete City Council and use the Sembler feedback form to let them know what you think of this proposed ordinance! Sembler is in Bush's back pocket BIG TIME, so please help if you can!

ACTION

Hello everyone! The First Amendment is under attack in St.
Petersburg, where Sembler Co., a large development firm in Bush's
back pocket, is trying to create "no protest" zones. Sembler Co. owns
a large entertainment multiplex in St. Petersburg and of course one
of those proposed zones is the public sidewalk in front of the
complex where St. Pete for Peace has been holding their weekly peace
vigil since the run-up to the Iraq war.

Please read the following article which gives a lot of background on
both the proposed ordinance and Sembler Co., and then take action:
http://www.legitgov.org/front_stpete_schiffler_072504.html

Here's how you can help:
1. Contact St. Petersburg City Council and tell them that you support
St. Pete for Peace and the First Amendment and oppose "no protest
zones". IMPORTANT: Councilwomen Renee Flowers and Virginia Littrell
have already spoken out AGAINST the proposed ordinance and should be
commended for their stand. Councilman Bob Foster is in favor of it –
I will leave it to your imagination as to what you should tell him!
If you are not a resident, you can still register your opinion and
let them know that this is receiving statewide/national attention.
You may also want to contact your local media to alert them to this
developing story.

[e-mail] Rick Kriseman District 1
[e-mail] John Bryan District 2
[e-mail] Bill Foster District 3
[e-mail] Virginia Littrell District 4
[e-mail] James Bennett District 5
[e-mail] Ernest Williams District 6
[e-mail] Renee Flowers District 7
[e-mail] Jay Lasita District 8

2. Contact Sembler Co., and tell them you know who is behind this
ordinance and you are not pleased with their behavior. If you
patronize the Baywalk restaurants, cinemas or other businesses, you
might let them know that it will be a cold day in you-know-where
before you purchase anything in that development again. There is an
on-line contact form here:
http://sembler.com/contactOffice.php?officeLocation=St.%20Petersburg

Sembler Corporate Headquarters
The Sembler Company
Corporate Headquarters
5858 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL 33707-1728
Phone: [phone]
Toll-free: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
On-line Contact Form

3. If you live in St. Petersburg or are visiting the area, please
join St. Pete for Peace for one of the following events:
a. Wednesday, July 28 – Protest at Sembler HQ. 4:30-6PM, 5858
Central Avenue in St. Pete.
b. Saturday, July 31 – Protest at Baywalk, 2nd Ave N and 2nd St.
7-9PM in St. Pete. Theme is Freedom of Speech.
c. Monday, August 2 – 2:30PM. Help St. Pete for Peace pack the
gallery when City Council holds a workshop on this issue. We are not
allowed to speak at the workshop, but we will be wearing "I support
free speech" stickers so that they know why we are there. The
Workshop will be held at City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N., Room 100
City Council will hold a meeting where the public is allowed to speak
on August 5. Details to follow. Residents who are able – please plan
to come. We still need to confirm the time, but we believe it is
8:30AM. If you are not a resident, we would still welcome your
support, holding signs in front of City Hall or helping gather
petition signatures from those who oppose the ordinance.

Please contact Chris ([e-mail]) or Carol
([e-mail]) or visit
http://www.stpeteforpeace.org for questions/updates/further details.