free speech in berkeley? not anymore!

between noon and 1pm today, five freespeech advocates were cited by the berkeley city finaance dept. officials for not having newly imposed "free speech" permits. doug minkler, well known and appreciated silk screen artist: russell bates, pro-palestinian, pro free speech bumpersticker person; and two patch free speech tables were cited for a little known berkeley municipal code requiring the issuance of a city of berkeley permit to be able to have tables for free speech on telegaph or shattuck in berkeley. when told the first amendment was our permit, we were told time and place could be regulated. we replied only if there was a problem and asked who had compla ined:no answer. recenty bpd officers have been asking local business's if we bothered them, their answerwas no. with the sjp repression on the ucb campus, a frightening national trend to limit our rights continues. what will happen sunday? who knows? more as it happens!