Protesters Removed From Budget Signing Ceremony
Friday, May 27, 2011
By: Tom Parkinson

May 26, 2011 | WMFE - Governor Rick Scott signed the Florida budget Thursday at The Villages in front of a mostly friendly crowd. He brought the budget signing ceremony to the large retirement community northwest of Orlando which is known as a stronghold for Florida tea party activists. But not everyone in that community is on board with the governor's agenda and when about a dozen protesters arrived before the event, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office ordered them to leave the town square.

Sheriff’s deputies escorted protesters to a small, enclosed area out of sight of the governor and the television cameras. A Republican staffer explained that the budget signing was a private event.

Frank Stanfield was one of the protesters. Stanfield is a coordinator for Kid’s Central Inc., a children’s advocacy group. He said he attended the event in hopes of getting the governor to veto Senate Bill 2146, which would significantly cut his organization’s budget.  He brought a sign asking the governor to veto that bill but he says Sumter deputies informed him that signs were not allowed.

“But of course they all had signs that supported the governor himself and what he’s doing with the budget and so on.” Stanfield said. “But we said ‘well, wait a minute they got signs.’ And they said, ‘no you gotta stand here across the road.’”

GOP representatives explained the space had been leased using Republican Party money.

Florida State University law professor Sandy D’Alemberte says the removal of protesters from a political event falls into a legal gray area. D’Alemberte said it depends whether the location would be considered a “public forum.”

“If this were held at a purely private place that has not been used as a public forum it’s possible that people could be excluded without any kind of repercussions.”  D’Alemberte said. “On the other hand, if it’s turned into a public forum by the fact that it’s been used repeatedly for public events, then it may be a violation of first amendment law.”

D’Alemberte says a place becomes a public forum through usage. A formal designation is not required.