home > newsroom ACLU Sues the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command for Withholding Public Information FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, February 12, 2001 SALT LAKE CITY--In a lawsuit filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah charged that the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command (UOPSC) violated the state’s public records law when it did not respond to the organization’s request for information regarding peaceful protests during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. In a letter dated January 2, 2001, ACLU of Utah staff attorney Janelle Eurick asked UOPSC for “public documents concerning the treatment of peaceful protesters during the 2002 Winter Olympics,” including information about the location of free speech areas around Salt Lake City Olympic venues, the rules regarding conduct within the Salt Lake Organizing Committee’s secured area near the medals plaza and Delta Center, and information about the training and identification materials on the “mobile field forces” that will be used to control demonstrations during the events. This request was made under Utah’s Governmental Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). Eurick expressed disappointment that the ACLU of Utah has had to resort to the courts in order to receive these documents. “Over the past two or three years, we have been meeting with representatives from the Salt Lake City Police Department and the Olympic Public Safety Command – in fact, with anyone who will listen to our concerns – to ensure that during the Olympic event, demonstrators have meaningful areas to voice their opinions and that our regular public forums remain open to free speech activities.” While UOPSC has joined the Salt Lake Organizing Committee at several public meetings to discuss their activities, they have not provided written information regarding any provisions for accommodating peaceful protesters during the international event. The ACLU of Utah’s GRAMA request was an effort to avoid a last minute fight over important free speech issues. Brian Barnard, ACLU of Utah cooperating attorney on the case, stated that there is no question that UOPSC is a public agency and must abide by Utah’s public records act. Created by legislative statute, UOPSC is made up of approximately twenty law enforcement agencies that work together to coordinate the Olympic security effort. Barnard stated, “our fear is that UOPSC has been preparing to ensure national security and for the possibility of terrorists activities without working to ensure the rights of peaceful protesters as well.” Carol Gnade, ACLU of Utah executive director, warned that by withholding its records, UOPSC invokes a worse-case scenario for the First Amendment: “when we agreed to host the winter Olympics, we welcomed the world to Salt Lake and it is important that this welcome does not exclude voices of dissent. If UOPSC refuses to abide by GRAMA, then we have no way of knowing just what we’re in for.” The case was filed today in the Salt Lake County Third District Court. --end-- Review the ACLU of Utah’s January 2, 2001 GRAMA request. Read a copy of the ACLU of Utah’s complaint.

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