Plutonic Panda
04-11-2014, 11:30 AM
Here is the story
NORMAN — City council members are considering an ordinance that would establish a buffer zone around schools to protect students from undue harassment by picketers.
However, wording of the ordinance is crucial, said City Attorney Jeff Bryant, or it could be construed as an infringement on freedom of speech.
“You have competing interests here,” Bryant said. “On the one hand, demonstrations are protected by the First Amendment. On the other hand, school districts have a substantial interest in not having schools disrupted by demonstrators.”
The city’s legal staff is attempting to draft an ordinance that protects the rights of both sides, he said.
City council members said they have received numerous complaints from parents and students about ongoing demonstrations at Norman High School and Norman North High School by an anti-abortion group.
However, school officials say they want a buffer zone to secure the perimeters of schools from any demonstrators. The anti-abortion picketers are not a target, Norman School District Superintendent Joe Siano said.
“This organization does target schools, but our issue is about proximity, not the content,” Siano said. “It’s about safety and ensuring that students have an unimpeded entry to and exit from school campuses.”
City council members discussed the problem in a conference Tuesday that was attended by school officials.
Bryant said the city’s legal staff is drafting an ordinance based on school officials’ concerns that would establish a 150-foot buffer zone around schools during school hours, as well as a half hour before and after regular school hours.
- read more here: Norman City Council considers school buffer zones | News OK (http://newsok.com/norman-city-council-considers-school-buffer-zones/article/3953551)
NORMAN — City council members are considering an ordinance that would establish a buffer zone around schools to protect students from undue harassment by picketers.
However, wording of the ordinance is crucial, said City Attorney Jeff Bryant, or it could be construed as an infringement on freedom of speech.
“You have competing interests here,” Bryant said. “On the one hand, demonstrations are protected by the First Amendment. On the other hand, school districts have a substantial interest in not having schools disrupted by demonstrators.”
The city’s legal staff is attempting to draft an ordinance that protects the rights of both sides, he said.
City council members said they have received numerous complaints from parents and students about ongoing demonstrations at Norman High School and Norman North High School by an anti-abortion group.
However, school officials say they want a buffer zone to secure the perimeters of schools from any demonstrators. The anti-abortion picketers are not a target, Norman School District Superintendent Joe Siano said.
“This organization does target schools, but our issue is about proximity, not the content,” Siano said. “It’s about safety and ensuring that students have an unimpeded entry to and exit from school campuses.”
City council members discussed the problem in a conference Tuesday that was attended by school officials.
Bryant said the city’s legal staff is drafting an ordinance based on school officials’ concerns that would establish a 150-foot buffer zone around schools during school hours, as well as a half hour before and after regular school hours.
- read more here: Norman City Council considers school buffer zones | News OK (http://newsok.com/norman-city-council-considers-school-buffer-zones/article/3953551)