PEOPLE FOR COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING
P O Box 27217, Washington DC 20038
202-265-5389 Contact: Red Provost
July 26, 1993
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHITE HOUSE CONVENES HEARING
ON DISPUTED FOREST SERVICE RULES
In response to protests from across the nation about the
constitutionality of proposed amendments to U.S. Forest Service
regulations, Kathryn Way of the White House domestic policy staff
has set up a meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28, at the
Department of Agriculture, between Forest Service officials and
individuals who are challenging the changes.
Critics contend that the new rules would abridge inalienable
Constitutional rights to assemble and to distribute literature on
public lands -- transforming an event such as a family reunion of
25 or more individuals into a crime punishable by fine and/or
imprisonment if it occurs in a National Forest without a permit.
any group (such as large families, church and school outings,
office parties) will be subject to the scrutiny and whim of
individual officials and law enforcement officers.
Similar Forest Service regulations have twice been struck
down by federal district courts as violating First Amendment
rights.
Hundreds of people in a rapidly growing community of
interest have already gathered in Washington to organize and make
their voices heard before the August 4 deadline for public
comment. During the week, many more are expected to arrive to
participate in direct lobbying and other actions to expand an
existing letter-writing and telephone campaign.