Miami commissioners have passed an ordinance designed to keep crowds safe during the anticipated protests during the Free Trade Area of the Americas conference next week. Protestors say the measure infringes on their right to speak their minds.
The downtown Miami area will bustle with police, protesters, and trade officials at next week's free trade talks. But missing will be many of the business people, lawyers and students who usually fill the streets.
MIAMI -- As protesters begin arriving in downtown Miami ahead of next week's trade talks, many of the businesspeople, lawyers and students who normally occupy the streets are heading out.
MIAMI -- Tens of thousands of protesters are coming to Miami next week, and many say they want the focus to be on their words, NOT the actions of a few.
MIAMI -- Thousands of protesters are expected on the streets of Miami to protest free trade talks, and while most vow a peaceful outpouring of dissent, police are preparing for the small, determined groups they say just want to wreak havoc.
TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Supreme Court's chief justice ordered Thursday that guarantees for speedy trials and court hearings will be suspended temporarily in Miami-Dade County because of next week's free trade meetings.
Miami-Dade Police arrested three protestors for possession of drugs and a concealed weapon. The City of Miami has voiced concerns that the arrests were outside of the counties jurisdiction.
MIAMI -- The City Commission adopted an ordinance Thursday designed to keep certain weapons, real or potential, from the hands of people who may take to the streets next week to protest or disrupt talks for a hemisphere-wide free trade zone.
MIAMI -- An international summit this month could move the Western Hemisphere toward becoming a free trade zone. But with an election less than a year away, the talks could also emerge as a thorny political issue in next year's presidential election.
Thousands of demonstrators expected to descend on Miami next week, when the controversial FTAA summit gets underway, and, as 7's Andre Hepkins explains, they're already preparing to protest.
Carnival has carefully assessed this situation and has determined that the potential for massive congestion created by this meeting would result in a serious disruption to its operation from the Port of Miami during this time.
With controversial trade talks coming to South Florida in just days, officials are bracing for backlash from what could possibly be thousands of protesters. But is the stepped up security bad for local business? 7's Charles Perez is live in Downtown Miami with more.
The Free Trade Area of the Americas has convened in many cities around the world. Along with their discussions of corporate globalization are the protestors that gather on a variety fronts-- more often than not resulting in violent protests. The arrival of the FTAA in Miami will certainly call for extra Police Enforcement. 7 News' Charles Billi has this snapshot of some of the issues activists have with the FTAA and what the event could mean in regards to security concerns for the city.