0zzy
11-21-2007, 06:01 PM
ST. PETERSBURG - St. Petersburg police are gearing up for protests and rallies expected to attract hundreds of people next week. All of the activity centers on a debate by Republican presidential candidates in the Mahaffey Theater.
Homeless advocates will kick it off with a religious service outside the theater Sunday night, followed by a sleep-in on the sidewalks outside the theater Sunday through Wednesday night.
A variety of groups and students from the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg and Eckerd College will take part.
Other groups plan to piggyback on the homeless event.
"We're expecting people from all over the state for the rally itself (Wednesday night) and there's a wide range of issues that the rally is going to discuss," said Reverend Bruce Wright of Refuge Ministries.
Supporters of candidate Ron Paul have pulled a city permit for another large rally in Pioneer Park. The park is very close to the Mahaffey and the permit says 500 or more people will attend that rally. Organizer Daniel Tucker says invitations were extended to more than 20 other organizations.
"We have tried to include every possible group you could imagine that follows the same lines that the system is broken and needs to be fixed," Tucker said.
St. Petersburg police spokesperson Bill Proffitt would not say how close to the theater protesters will be allowed to gather.
"If they're inside the secured area, we'll ask them to leave" he says, adding "and hopefully they'll go out onto a public sidewalk and continue their protest."
Local Republicans have also pulled a permit for a gathering in Vinoy Park. That event will also attract more than 500 people.
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5003528&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
Homeless advocates will kick it off with a religious service outside the theater Sunday night, followed by a sleep-in on the sidewalks outside the theater Sunday through Wednesday night.
A variety of groups and students from the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg and Eckerd College will take part.
Other groups plan to piggyback on the homeless event.
"We're expecting people from all over the state for the rally itself (Wednesday night) and there's a wide range of issues that the rally is going to discuss," said Reverend Bruce Wright of Refuge Ministries.
Supporters of candidate Ron Paul have pulled a city permit for another large rally in Pioneer Park. The park is very close to the Mahaffey and the permit says 500 or more people will attend that rally. Organizer Daniel Tucker says invitations were extended to more than 20 other organizations.
"We have tried to include every possible group you could imagine that follows the same lines that the system is broken and needs to be fixed," Tucker said.
St. Petersburg police spokesperson Bill Proffitt would not say how close to the theater protesters will be allowed to gather.
"If they're inside the secured area, we'll ask them to leave" he says, adding "and hopefully they'll go out onto a public sidewalk and continue their protest."
Local Republicans have also pulled a permit for a gathering in Vinoy Park. That event will also attract more than 500 people.
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5003528&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1