Anti-Trump groups among those receiving convention permits

The ACLU is also asking the court to act immediately in addressing the parade route and persistent delays in the process for approving permit applications.

The lawsuit wants the size and regulations of the Event Zone covering 3.3 square miles in downtown Cleveland reduced.

The American Civil Liberties Union wants to speed up its free speech lawsuit challenging Cleveland’s rules governing protesters expected at the Republican National Convention in July.

CLEVELAND Three groups planning to demonstrate at the Republican National Convention in July sued the city of Cleveland on Tuesday, seeking immediate changes to security measures due to their “unacceptable restrictions” on free speech.

City officials previously have said in developing their rules, they sought to balance safety with the free-speech rights of demonstrators.

Protesters gather in May outside RNC headquarters in protest of Trump’s candidacy..

Dan Williams, a spokesman for the mayor, said in a phone call he had not seen the lawsuit and that the city does not comment on ongoing litigation.

ACLU General Counsel Susan Becker says that led to some frustrating negotiations with the city last week. “The current rules for demonstrations at the RNC are actively blocking groups from all sides of the political spectrum from participating in their government”.

Approximately 50,000 people from across the United States and around the world, including delegates and alternates, elected officials, journalists and protesters, are expected to visit Cleveland during the convention July 18-21. “All of those things are restricted within the Event Zone”. But the city also will ban from Cleveland streets ordinary items including umbrellas with metal tips, squirt guns, glass bottles, bags and backpacks of a certain size, coolers, tents, sleeping bags and canned goods. “These rules criminalize everyone from people who are homeless to grocery shoppers for carrying everyday items”.