MIAMI -- In a victory for the city of Miami Police Department, the city commission on Thursday voted to adopt an ordinance designed to stop protesters from carrying weapons and other objects that could be used as weapons at next week's meetings on creating a hemispherewide free trade zone.
The rule, adopted by a unanimous vote of 4-0, is aimed at the 20,000 or more protesters who are expected to converge on the city during the Free Trade Area of the Americas meetings, which begin Sunday and end Nov. 21.
The rule, which had been sought by Miami police Chief John Timoney, bans groups of seven or more from carrying rifles, guns and "any length of metal, plastic or other similar hard or stiff material," among other things.
It also prohibits lumber more than a quarter-inch thick, glass bottles and water guns. The ban applies to groups who the rules say are intent on attracting attention or interfering with the normal flow of traffic.
Civil rights groups said the ordinance is so vague that protesters will be stopped by police carrying items like pens and posters. They promised to challenge the rule in court.
Free speech advocates had claimed the city was going too far in a preliminary version of the ordinance, banning items common at anti-globalization protests, like stilts, poles and giant paper mache puppets.
The initial version of the rule would have banned gas masks and bulletproof vests, but the city later backed off.
The new version of the ordinance is permanent, and will not expire days after the FTAA meeting as in the earlier proposal.
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