Regulations for Saturday’s Tea Party at the Arch

Here are the National Park rules for First Amendment demonstrations on the Arch grounds.  Please read and comply on Saturday.  These rules apply to all groups who use the grounds in order to express views under the First Amendment. They are not special rules for the Tea Party only. Please pay particular attention to items 1. and 5. 

Item 1 pretty much limits us to megaphones as a means of voice amplification.  We wish we could use a sound system, but we can’t. Having the speakers on the sidewalk at the BOTTOM of the steps, though, should help trap the sound.

Item 5 says no sticks or poles for signs or banners. 

1. Any loud speaker being used must be so adjusted as to accommodate only those people in the immediate area. All audio enhancement equipment should be portable and battery-powered as there is no power available on park grounds. NO GENERATORS ARE ALLOWED ON PARK GROUNDS.
2. The selling of merchandise or commercial advertising is prohibited.
3. No temporary structures shall be erected. Nothing may be attached to park property (fences, trees, trash receptacles, etc.)
4. If any printed matter is distributed as part of your activity, the printed matter must be directly related to your event and must not contain any commercial advertising. Printed matter will be limited to message-bearing textual printed material such as books, pamphlets, magazines, and leaflets whose primary purpose is the advocacy, definition or explanation of a group’s or individual’s political, religious, scientific or moral beliefs.
5. Signs and banners must not be attached to sticks or poles. This provision is not intended to restrict the use of portable signs or banners as an expression of First Amendment rights. Banners or signs which are hand-carried are allowed; however, they may not be obscene or indecent in nature, and must not pose a danger to anyone else in the area.
6. Participants are to avoid language which infers an official connection with the National Park Service and its activities.
7. The area will be left in the same condition as found and all litter placed in the provided containers. Any park property damaged by, or as a result of the permit holder, will be replaced or repaired at the cost of the permit holder.
8. The permit is only for use of the specific area and time period designated on the permit. Issuance of the permit does not guarantee exclusive use of an area. The area for which the permit is issued will remain open to the public during the park’s visiting hours. Permit activities must not interfere with park visitors or programs.
9. The use of any device or prop that utilizes smoke or open flame is prohibited.
10. The National Park Service reserves the right to immediately revoke the permit at any time should this become necessary in the interest of public safety, public health, and general welfare.
11. The United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, will in no way be held responsible in the event of any personal injury, and/or loss of, or damage to, personal property during, or occurring from, the use of the area.
12. The permittee and all participants are required to comply with all applicable Federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, codes, permit requirements and conditions, as well as park regulations contained in Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The permit may be terminated upon breach of any of the conditions or at the discretion of the Superintendent. The permittee and all participants will comply with any instructions from the designated official representative of this office and similar instructions of the St. Louis City Police Department.
13. Good order and proper decorum shall be maintained by those persons conducting and participating in the activity and the group will leave the area at the conclusion time stated on the permit. It is prohibited for persons engaged in activities covered under the permit to obstruct or impede pedestrians or vehicles, or harass park visitors or misrepresent their purpose. Permittee must agree to maintain public access in the area (do not block entire sidewalks/steps/door entrances, etc, with people or equipment).
14. The provisions of 36 CFR Chapter 1 Section 2.51 is the authority used for administering permits for Public Assemblies. A copy of this regulation is available upon request.
15. Failure to comply with the provisions of the permit will result in its immediate revocation. Specific individuals failing to comply with the provisions herein will be prohibited from future participation in their activities at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

Hope to see you there on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.