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Decision to restrict protests in St. Augustine is drawing protests

A decision to restrict protests in St. Augustine is drawing protests.

City commissioners passed an ordinance Tuesday night that will limit protests in the plaza during events, starting this weekend at the kickoff of Nights of Lights.

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Protesters will be allowed on the plaza’s perimeter sidewalk, and police will be able to separate protesters and counterprotesters.

There was a peaceful protest at last year’s event over the commission’s decision to keep the city’s Confederate monument in the plaza.

City leaders said they just want to keep people safe, and they’ve been working on an ordinance like this for a couple of years.

“You got a whole plaza full of crowds of people, and here comes a big protest group. If they’re standing in there with their signs picketing, they should be allowed in the plaza. But you know, as long as they’re peaceful,” said Dawn Masters, who lives in St. Augustine.

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Others, like Pastor David Williamson, said the ordinance never should have been passed, and it’s dividing his community even more.

“I don’t think there would be a protest if the leadership of our city, police department, pastors of churches got together in the same room and spent time listening to one another, listening to each other’s concerns,” he said.

And there are some groups who plan on protesting this weekend, on the sidewalks.