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Notorious Charlottesville rally organizer withdraws permit request to mark one-year anniversary
Kessler said last year's events were critical to his application and the underlying message of the anniversary rally, which he described in his lawsuit as a "political demonstration."
In his application, he described the event as a demonstration "against government civil rights abuse" and its "failure to follow security plans" for the 2017 rally.
"We are opposing any changes to Lee (Emancipation) Park and memorializing the sacrifices made by political dissidents in Lee Park on August 12, 2017."
The city denied the application on the grounds that it would "present a danger to public safety." Kessler sued, claiming city officials violated his First Amendment rights by denying his request.
He requested a court order in March 2018 compelling the city to issue the permit, The withdrawal does not end the lawsuit, just his request for a court-ordered issuance of a permit, Charlottesville Acting City Attorney Lisa Robertson said in a statement.
Kessler said last year's events were critical to his application and the underlying message of the anniversary rally, which he described in his lawsuit as a "political demonstration."
In his application, he described the event as a demonstration "against government civil rights abuse" and its "failure to follow security plans" for the 2017 rally.
"We are opposing any changes to Lee (Emancipation) Park and memorializing the sacrifices made by political dissidents in Lee Park on August 12, 2017."
The city denied the application on the grounds that it would "present a danger to public safety." Kessler sued, claiming city officials violated his First Amendment rights by denying his request.
He requested a court order in March 2018 compelling the city to issue the permit, The withdrawal does not end the lawsuit, just his request for a court-ordered issuance of a permit, Charlottesville Acting City Attorney Lisa Robertson said in a statement.