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Ahead of the G-20 Summit to be held later this month in Pittsburgh, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the Center for Constitutional Rights has filed suit on behalf of protesters. The two-day gathering scheduled to begin on September 24th is expected to draw world leaders, financial ministers and representatives of the European Union to the city as well as scores of demonstrators. In filing a complaint in federal court, the ACLU and CCR contend that the free speech rights of those seeking to peacefully protest the summit have been violated by Pittsburgh city officials. Activist organizations, including Bail Out the People, CODEPINK, and the G-6 Billion, also name the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in the suit claiming that the city has failed to promptly issue protest permits. They allege that first amendment rights have been violated as demonstrators were, among other things, unable to obtain the use of Point State Park during the week of the summit and hold a march near the Thomas Merton Center where it is taking place.

GUEST: Bill Quigley, Legal Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights . For more information, visit www.ccrjustice.org.