First Amendment Assemblies

Our top priority is providing a safe environment for everyone who lives, works, or visits our community. The First Amendment guarantees individuals and groups the right to express their opinion through non-violent, peaceful assemblies and demonstrations.

Guidance for Organizers

At the City of Kalamazoo, our top priority is providing a safe environment for everyone who lives, works or visits our community. The First Amendment guarantees individuals and groups the right to express their opinion through non-violent, peaceful assemblies and demonstrations. After all, a safe community means safer neighborhoods and a culture that promotes respect for one another.

As you plan your event, use this checklist to ensure the lines of communication are open and safety requirements are met.   

Determine what kind of First Amendment assembly best fits your vision and goals

There are a broad range of ways to have your voice heard through a peaceful public assembly. Examples include marches, parades, picketing, rallies, sit-ins, street theater, vigils, or flash events.

When will the event take place?

It’s helpful to check community calendars to ensure your event doesn’t overlap with other events.

Choose a location

City parks and sidewalks may be used without reserving the space, without the need for a permit or a fee, but those spaces will remain open to the public at large during the event.

If you wish to reserve a park, a sidewalk or temporarily close a street please refer to the “Use Of Parks, Sidewalks, Streets” section. Permits and fees may be required to reserve or close certain public spaces.

Open the lines of communication with the City of Kalamazoo and KDPS

Please have the following information available:

  • Name of organizing group or person
  • Name and cell phone number of lead contact person who will be the liaison to the City and KDPS

Determine the details

It’s helpful to outline your event to determine any special needs and anticipate potential problems. Outline the answers to the following questions:

  • Will someone give a speech, call to action or prayer? If yes, will we need a megaphone or sound system so people can hear speakers?
  • Will we have any visuals (large signs, poster boards, etc.)?
  • How will organizers be visibly identifiable to KDPS?
  • How will participants be identified? o How is this event being promoted?
  • Where will people park?
  • What will you do in the event of inclement weather?
  • Will there be access to restroom facilities or do you need rent portable restrooms for participants?

Promote your event with safety in mind

 Inform your audience of the date, time and location of your assembly. It’s important to ask for peaceful, non-violent assemblies. While the First Amendment protects speech, participants can be arrested for encouraging and initiating violence.

Communicate often

Be sure to maintain communication with KDPS and notify them of any potential conflicts or changed plans.

Stay on course

As the organizer, do your best to keep the event to the planned timeline. If you are marching, stay on route.

Follow direction from KDPS

KDPS can order a “disorderly” group to leave the area. If your group is ordered to disperse, please instruct all participants to leave immediately. Those who do not leave may be arrested.

How to contact the City of Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety
Office of Community Affairs
(269) 337-8270
Victor Green, greenv@kalamazoocity.org

Special Event / Park / Street Reservations
(269) 337-8191
www.kzooparks.org/specialevents
kzooparks@kalamazoocity.org

Guidance for Media

As a member of the media, we respect the role you play in covering important events happening in the City of Kalamazoo, throughout the county and across the state.

At the City of Kalamazoo, our top priority is providing a safe community for everyone who lives, works and visits. The First Amendment guarantees individuals and groups the right to express their opinion through non-violent, peaceful assemblies and demonstrations. After all, a safe community means safer neighborhoods and a culture that promotes respect for one another.

The City of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety would like to share the following guidance for media:

Safety first. We encourage members of the media to refer to these guidelines from The Poynter Institute to safely cover protests and other public demonstrations. We request that members of the media follow directions of KDPS officers to ensure safety and order, especially during assemblies.

Send interview requests to the City of Kalamazoo's Public Information Officer. The City Manager and Public Safety Chief speak on the behalf of the City of Kalamazoo and KDPS, and statement and interview requests can be made by emailing the Public Information Officer, calling 311 or (269) 337-8000, or emailing hello@kalamazoocity.org.

We are committed to effective communications, transparency and accountability. We will continue listening to the residents and leaders in our community – and that includes members of the media — to help us make decisions, garner feedback and constantly improve.

Guidance for Legal Observers

As legal observers, we respect the critical role you play in observing and recording events happening in the City of Kalamazoo and throughout the county.

At the City of Kalamazoo, our top priority is providing a safe environment for everyone who lives, works or visits our community. The First Amendment guarantees individuals and groups the right to express their opinion through non-violent, peaceful assemblies and demonstrations. After all, a safe community means safer neighborhoods and a culture that promotes respect for one another.

The City of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety would like to share the following guidance for legal observers:

Safety first. We encourage legal observers to refer to these guidelines from The Poynter Institute to safely observe protests and other public demonstrations. While these guidelines are for members of the media, we believe they translate well to legal observers. We request that legal observers follow directions of KDPS officers to ensure safety and order, especially during assemblies.

Identify yourself. Please clearly identify yourself as a legal observer, both verbally and/or with employer-provided credentials.

Have a plan. Please have a plan for where you intend to be located before, during and after an event. Share this plan with Public Safety ahead of time if possible.

We are committed to effective communications, transparency and accountability. We will continue listening to the residents and leaders in our community – and that includes legal observers— to help us make decisions, garner feedback and constantly improve.

Use of Parks, Sidewalks, or Streets

The City of Kalamazoo supports and welcomes expressions of free speech in many forms and formats and respects the rights of people to peaceably assemble. Public spaces may be used for expression of free speech by individuals and groups. First amendment assemblies may not cause damage to public or private property, nor cause or incite violence.

Public Parks

  • Individuals or groups may use any public park for a first amendment assembly without reserving the space, without the need for a permit, and without a fee.
  • If the public park is reserved by another group for that day / time, the person with the reservation has priority and a first amendment assembly cannot interfere with that person’s permitted use of the park.
  • If an individual or group wishes to reserve a park for their use or wishes to use a stage or have electrical outlets turned on, they may do so by contacting the City’s Parks & Recreation Department at least 10 calendar days in advance of the event, filling out a special event form, and paying the appropriate fee. www.kzooparks.org/specialevents

Public Sidewalks

  • Individuals or groups may use a sidewalk for a first amendment assembly without reserving the space, without the need for a permit, and without a fee.
  • If the public sidewalk is reserved by another group for that day / time, the person with the reservation has priority and a first amendment assembly cannot interfere with that person’s permitted use of the public sidewalk.
  • First amendment assembly marches can use sidewalks. Participants must use crosswalks and obey traffic and pedestrian signals.
  • If an individual or group wishes to have a Public Safety escort of their march, or wishes to have traffic safety barricades erected, they may do so by contacting the City’s Parks & Recreation Department at least 10 calendar days in advance of the event, filling out a special event form, and paying the appropriate fee (forms and contact information available here).
  • A first amendment assembly on a sidewalk may not:
  • Block the public’s use of the sidewalk
  • Block the entrance to a driveway or an entrance to a property or building
  • Have banners that are so large as to block drivers’ vision or create a safety hazard
  • Interfere with Americans with Disability Act accessibility requirements

Public Streets

  • All first amendment assemblies which wish to use a public street (marches or other events) must first receive prior City approval by contacting the City’s Parks & Recreation Department at least 10 calendar days in advance of the event, filling out a special event form, and paying the appropriate fee (additional fees may be charged for road barricades, city staffing, etc.). The City of Kalamazoo will determine appropriate measures needed to protect the safety of protestors and motorists.
  • Any individual or group which uses a public street for a first amendment assembly without prior approval may be required to move the assembly to a public sidewalk.

Non-compliance

An individual or group which uses a public space for a first amendment assembly not in compliance with the above may be subject to ticketing, fines and/or arrest.

How to contact the City of Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety
Office of Community Affairs
(269) 337-8270
Victor Green, greenv@kalamazoocity.org

Special Event / Park / Street Reservations
(269) 337-8191
www.kzooparks.org/specialevents
kzooparks@kalamazoocity.org

 

 

FAQ

What is the City of Kalamazoo doing to ensure organizers of protests or demonstrations follow the rules?

  • At the City of Kalamazoo, our top priority is providing a safe community for everyone who lives, works and visits our city.
  • The First Amendment guarantees the right to express opinions through nonviolent, peaceful assemblies and demonstrations.
  • We have created a set of guidelines and tools for organizers to follow and use for future events to ensure the lines of communication remain open and everyone understands what is expected of them.

What does the City of Kalamazoo consider a First Amendment assembly?

  • First Amendment assemblies are peaceful, non-violent public demonstrations.
  • First Amendment assemblies include marches, parades, picketing, rallies, sit-ins, street theater, vigils and flash events.
  • The City of Kalamazoo and KDPS works hard to ensure all policies regarding First Amendment assemblies are applied and enforced equitably.

Do I need a permit to plan a First Amendment assembly?

  • No. However, if you wish to reserve a specific park or wish to close a sidewalk or a street for a limited time, please complete a Special Event Form available here and submit it in advance of your event to city staff so they can help you coordinate the necessary venue.
  • We ask that all event organizers contact us to ensure the lines of communication are open beforehand. This helps us ensure events are safe.

Where can First Amendment assemblies take place?

  • Common event locations include city parks and streets/public ways.
  • Permission is required if you plan to host an event on private property.

Will participants be arrested for participating in a First Amendment assembly?

  • Peaceful protests are protected by the First Amendment. Participants can be arrested for encouraging and initiating violence or illegal activities or threatening to harm people or property.
  • Our top priority is providing a safe community for everyone who lives, works and visits Kalamazoo.
  • And a safe community means safer neighborhoods and a culture that promotes respect for one another. 6. What is the city doing to ensure members of the media or legal observers aren’t arrested at events?
  • Members of the media and legal observers play important roles in covering and observing marches, rallies and demonstrations.
  • We have created guidance for both to follow and provided resources, so reporters and legal observers know what is expected of them.
  • KDPS will incorporate additional training for officers regarding members of the press and legal observers during First Amendment assemblies.
  • The City Manager’s Office staff are engaging with media and community partners to strengthen relationships, improve communication, and explore the possibility for joint trainings.
  • Moving forward, we remain committed to listening to the residents and leaders in our community — and that includes members of the media and legal observers — to help us make decisions, garner feedback and constantly improve.