MIAMI -- Gas masks and bullet proof vests would be allowed under a proposed ordinance that won preliminary approval Thursday to limit violent protests at next month's Free Trade Area of the Americas meeting.
The ordinance allows people to carry gas masks, baseball bats, ball bearings and other items. But it would still ban lumber more than a quarter-inch thick, glass bottles and water guns.
Miami city commissioners agreed to hold several public hearings on the ordinance before taking a final vote Nov. 13. The FTAA meetings, expected to attract 50,000 protesters, are scheduled Nov. 17-21.
Commission Chairman Johnny L. Winton said he expected more changes to the ordinance, as the panel weighs the rights of free speech against the rights of property owners. He said: "It's clear to me at the moment that we don't have that figured out."
Civil rights groups have promised to a court challenge to the new ordinance if approved, saying it still infringes on First Amendment rights.
At Thursday's meeting, demonstrators showed the panel a large, six-person homemade dragon puppet with a long fabric body. The puppet would be allowed, but stilts -- also shown to the commission -- would be banned, because the wood was more than one-fourth inch thick.
"We have a lot of problems with it because it is written with the tunnel vision of Seattle '99," said Max Rameau from the Miami Worker Center.
The new version of the ordinance is permanent, and will not expire days after the FTAA meeting like an earlier proposal.
Rameau warned that the ordinance would have many unintended consequences. He said the ban on water balloons could be applied to children playing in a park. And the ban on metal poles could also apply to first-down markers at a football game.
"If it is passed, we will be vigilant that this is equally applied across the board," Rameau said.
Trade ministers from 34 countries will attend the meeting to discuss creating a free-trade region covering the Western Hemisphere, except Cuba.
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