THE PASSION OF THE RIGHTS PROTEST
NEWS: POLICE CALLED TO CITY HALL AFTER BAND DEMONSTRATES
ST. PETERSBURG, FL- Dozens of police officers were dispatched to St. Petersburg City Hall after industrial rock band, Hell On Earth, arrived there to lead a peaceful demonstration on April 1. They were protesting a proposed ordinance that would force promoters to buy a $10,000 bond and give the city permission to deduct $500 from it every time the performing artist would say a word the city considered offensive.
Members of Hell On Earth and other protesters marched down city streets to the front doors of City Hall carrying crosses contesting the proposed ordinance, shouting, “The Power of Rights Compels You!” Bandleader, BillY Tourtelot wore biblical attire and a crown of barbed wire. Tourtelot occasionally stopped on the steps and denounced the actions of the St. Petersburg City Council members inside.
Immediately after the protesters arrived, uniformed and undercover police officers monitored the demonstration closely. Many pedestrians nodded in support and said such things as, “You guys are exactly right.”
After an hour of protesting, Tourtelot and several other protesters went inside to sit-in on City Council’s meeting. He signed in to get his 3 minutes to speak on the issue. The proposed, constitutionally-challenged, ordinance did not appear on the agenda provided by City Council. An hour into the meeting, Tourtelot was told that the issue would not be discussed today and he told them that he would be back with more demonstrators (at the next meeting). Immediately after the protestors left City Hall, dozens of police officers and a paddy wagon arrived.
Later that day, City Council members decided to vote on the proposed ordinance to thwart public out cry and deter further demonstrations. The ordinance was killed in a 4-4 split vote. Without a majority vote, the ordinance died on the floor.
Council member Bill Foster said he was disappointed in his colleagues and accused them of shirking their responsibilities. "I think we're not doing our jobs," he said after the vote. "It's a terrible reflection on us.”- source St. Pete Times 4/2/04. This contradicts an earlier claim that he (Foster) didn't necessarily support the proposal but thought it was a good starting point for discussion.________________________________________________________________
NEWS: BAND LEADS PROTEST AT CITY HALL
ST.
PETERSBURG, FL -- Industrial rock band Hell On Earth will
lead a demonstration at St. Petersburg City Hall on April 1 at 9:00 a.m.
protesting City Council's proposed ordinance that would force promoters
to pay $500 every time their performer said a word that the city
considers offensive. The fine would be deducted from a $10,000 bond the
promoter would have to purchase in advance. Once the bond has been
exhausted, the power would be cut from the performance.
Band leader BillY Tourtelot put in his "50 cents" saying, "Hell On Earth
will not allow St. Petersburg City Council to rewrite our Bill Of
Rights. Our attorney, Kevin Hayslett, will also be present to make sure
our rights are not raped during our demonstration."
St. Petersburg City Hall is located at 175 5th Street N.
________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
ST. PETERSBURG CITY COUNCIL DEFIES FIRST AMENDMENT
Click Here for details
________________________________________________________________
More Photos Of The Passion Of The Rights Protest
***Click Here TO VISIT THE OFFICIAL NEW HELL ON EARTH WEB SITE***