The park service is planning to close most of the sidewalk in front of the White House to protesters and to charge fees for demonstrations, according to the ACLU.
In a proposal, the park service wants to block off 20 of the 25 feet of White House sidewalk to protesters, with no stated reason.
Along with charging demonstrators for “elements that are special events” — the definition of which is unclear — the park department is considering fining protesters for damage to grass and fencing.
As the ACLU points out, the department has no such plans to fine the 45 million non-protesters who visit per year and put the landscaping through wear and tear.
The proposal also floats limitations on the right to spontaneously protest, saying that the demonstrations would only accommodated at the moment if the personnel and resources “can reasonably be made available.”
Per the ACLU, public comment on the proposal closes October 15.
