Sometimes I think we take for granted how nice it is to have open meetings that the public can attend, and even participate in. For example, here in Somervell County, if you go to the county commissioner's meetings or the City of Glen Rose, the school board, the water district, etc meetings, there is always a section set aside for public comment. Now, usually you have to sign up to speak or otherwise let the folks running it that you want to speak for a few minutes about a topic, but I consider that part of the orderly process of the meetings.

That's why when you read something ridiculous about what Georgetown is doing (and is being sued for), it makes you appreciate Somervell County all the more. When Georgetown had a controversial item on the agenda, some people who were protesting the action were told they didn't have a permit to do so.

The original idea drew objections. Before the council voted on the issue Tuesday, a group of immigration rights activists announced that they had sued the city, alleging that their constitutional rights were violated when they were kept from protesting the proposal at a Jan. 8 council meeting. 

Diaz said Tuesday that he and a small group were demonstrating peacefully on the sidewalk outside council chambers. Two city police officers told him that the group should have registered with the city for a permit, Diaz said.

The lawsuit alleges that police threatened the protesters with arrest because they violated a city ordinance requiring that they apply 30 days ahead of time for a permit.

"People holding signs on a sidewalk is classically protected freedom of speech," said Texas Civil Rights Project attorney Jim Harrington, who is representing the group in the lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in federal court in Austin.

Also, according to this, if you want to even speak at a Georgetown City Council meeting, you have to register A WEEK IN ADVANCE!

An attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project said that Georgetown also requires those people who wish to speak at a City Council meeting to register a week in advance.

Again, we're lucky to live in Somervell County!