TA city folds, will allow marijuana rally
Municipality revokes decision to forbid rally for legalization of drug following Ynet report
Following a Ynet report on the Tel Aviv Municipality's refusal to allow a rally for the legalization of marijuana, the city on Sunday announced that after reexamining the situation, it has decided that there are no grounds to forbid the rally, pending police approval.
Earlier Sunday, Ynet reported that the Tel Aviv Municipality was placing hurdles for Liora Gelber, who hoped to organize a rally in Rabin Square.
Tel Aviv Municipality official Ruby Zelof sent her a letter saying, "I hereby inform you that your request to hold a rally for the legalization of cannabis has been rejected."
According to Gelber, "The police did not give us any trouble, but the municipality said it would cost us NIS 16,600 (about $4,300) to hold the rally at Rabin Square," said Gelber.
"We began to raise the money, and various artists confirmed their participation. The notice we received today infuriated us. The municipality did not even give us a reason for why it is not authorizing the rally."
"We live in a democratic country and we have the right to protest," she said.
In response to a Ynet appeal, the municipality said, "All mass events in public places in the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo require permits from the city and the police. The matter was reexamined by the city's legal advisor, who ruled that there are no grounds to forbid the gathering/protest aimed at changing the existing law on the use of cannabis."
