Protesters Will Have Answers Soon, Says Mayor

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says that groups planning to protest the G20 summit in September will know whether their permits to demonstrate have been accepted or not by next week.

State Senator Jim Ferlo of Highland Park wanted to use Point State Park as a “free speech area” the day before the summit begins, but was denied because police and the Secret Service would be using the site. Ravenstahl says the Point gathering would still be possible if the city is allowed to accommodate both demonstrators and security personnel. Ravenstahl says he has asked the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to consider permitting protesters to demonstrate on a portion of Point State Park’s area.

Other groups want to protest in different areas throughout the city, including a march from Oakland to Downtown. Ravenstahl says these groups shouldn’t “assume that the city will say no” to them, because Pittsburgh is doing its best to allow them to protest while working under the authority of the Secret Service.