ACLU, Rutherford Institute Demand City Rescind Decision to Move Unite the Right

The Albemarle County-based Rutherford Institute and the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union are demanding that the city of Charlottesville give pro-white activist Jason Kessler permission to hold his Unite The Right rally in Emancipation Park as originally planned.

In a letter sent to city officials today, the organizations warned that the city’s decision to approve Kessler’s permit for a demonstration only in McIntire Park is a violation of his free speech rights. If the city doesn’t grant the permit as originally requested, the organizations indicated they could pursue legal action and gave the city 24 hours to assure Kessler that the rally could proceed as planned.

“As organizations committed to protecting constitutional and civil rights, we demand that the city withdraw its letter to Jason Kessler of Aug. 7, 2017, revoking and otherwise rescinding the permit for a demonstration in Emancipation Park on Aug. 12, 2017, and provide assurances that the City will allow the ‘Unite the Right’ demonstration as previously planned and approved by operation of law,” the letter reads. “We will need a response to this letter by noon Aug. 9, 2017.”

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