GOP not allowed to join Cleveland convention protest suit

A judge ruled Tuesday that the GOP could not enter into a federal lawsuit regarding restrictions and security measures imposed by the city of Cleveland for the Republican National Convention next month, Politico reported.

The federal lawsuit is charging Cleveland with violating the First Amendment by restricting demonstrations and taking other security measures.

{mosads}The RNC’s Committee on Arrangements wanted to join the lawsuit to defend security restrictions in the areas surrounding the convention and the limits on marches.

The GOP filed legal papers on Monday, saying the restrictions were important to address possible threats in the wake of the Orlando, Fla., nightclub attack that left 49 people dead and many more wounded. It also said that protests and attacks against presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump’s supporters while on the campaign trail justified the need for protest limits and other security measures.

But U.S. District Court Judge James Gwin ruled that the GOP could not participate in the suit.

“Neither COA nor the Host Committee is a necessary party to this litigation,” Gwin wrote in a four-page order.

“Plaintiffs challenge Cleveland’s regulations and parade permit processing. Plaintiffs make no claim against the COA or the Host Committee. While COA and the Host Committee may have given input regarding the challenged regulations, neither COA nor the Host Committee promulgated the regulations. They do not enforce the regulations.

“Furthermore, COA and the Host Committee are not state agencies and therefore do not risk violating Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights,” the judge continued. “None of Plaintiffs’ requested relief would require anything from the COA or the Host Committee. This Court can afford complete relief to Plaintiffs without joining COA and the Host Committee.”

The lawsuit against the city of Cleveland was filed last week by the American Civil Liberties Union.

It argues that the restrictions regarding what people can be bring into the outer security zone during the RNC and the limits on parade routs and times infringe on people’s free speech rights and are excessive.

The judge is scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday on the lawsuit.