Free Speech Seattle
1331 Terry Ave. #104
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 781-7371
http://www.freespeechseattle.org/
info@freespeechseattle.org
Initiative 46, the citizens' initiative that would repeal Seattle's poster ban, continues to pick up supporters and endorsements. City Council candidates backing I-46 include Charlie Chong, Daniel Norton, Curt Firestone, Daniel Norton, Dawn Mason, Heidi Wills and Judy Nicastro. "The poster ban and free speech are an important issue in the 1999 campaign," says Tim Crowley, Campaign Manager for I-46. "If things go well at the polls, City Council could repeal the poster ban for us."
Free Speech Seattle, the group behind I-46, will hold a rally August 24 at City Hall Park (450 3rd Ave) from 3 to 7 p.m. All of the City Council candidates have been invited and many will be speaking. In addition, representatives from the ACLU, Initiative 48, and other organizations will be on hand. Speakers both for and against I-46 have been invited. Confirmed speakers include Lee Carter, Charlie Chong, Tim Crowley, George Curtis, Curt Firestone, Alec Fisken, David Lawton, Judy Nicastro, Ralph Warren, and Heidi Wills. The rally will serve as a town meeting of sorts, with a microphone for audience members to ask questions.
August 24 is the deadline to turn in the 19,000 signatures I-46 needs to make the ballot. Free Speech Seattle will be handing them in as part of the rally.
Seattle Hempfest will be the last big signature gathering event before the August 24 deadline. "It's a given that we can't change misguided drugs laws without our free speech rights intact," say Crowley. "The Hempfest crowd is more politically aware than the average festivalgoer."
Seattle Hempfest has been a strong supporter of I-46 from the start and will be promoting the initiative from the main stage throughout the day. "We plan to put I-46 over the top," says Hempfest Director Vivian McPeak, who has been fighting the poster ban through the courts for several years.
For more information, contact Free Speech Seattle at (206) 781-7371, info@freespeechseattle.org, or www.freespeechseattle.org.