Mass Gatherings and Public Events

Mass gatherings and public events pose several public health issues, including providing food, water, and sanitation facilities for the participants and assuring that the participants do not create sanitation or other public health problems for the surrounding communities.  Laws governing such gatherings must not unconstitutionally interfere with the right of free expression and the right of free assembly.

Supreme Court Allows Content Neutral Regulation of Mass Gatherings - Thomas v. Chicago Park Dist., No. 00-1249 (U.S. 01-15-2002)

Standing to Contest Future Controls on Mass Gatherings - Park v. Forest Service of the United States, 205 F.3d 1034 (8th Cir. 03-03-2000)

Supreme Court Upholds Demonstration Restrictions - Hill v. Colorado, 530 U.S. 703 (2000)

Municipal Mass Gathering Permits - Coalition for the Abolition of Marijuana Prohibition v. City of Atlanta, No. 99-11385 (11th Cir. 2000)

The Rainbow People v. The National Forests - U.S. v. Kalb 86 F.Supp.2d 509 (W.D.Pa. 2000)

Consent Order - The Rainbow People and North Carolina

Must Regulations of Mass Gatherings be the Least Intrusive? - Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. 781 (1989)