Officials in Springfield, Massachusetts, say they've learned through social media that several unauthorized group events are being promoted on city properties and they have issued a warning.
Gatherings with vendors and no permits won't be tolerated. Springfield's health commissioner Helen Caulton-Harrissaid with COVID-19 still active, her department will use its power to shut them down.
“I am saying this because I do not want anyone to think that this is a result of law enforcement being punitive. It really is about saving lives,” Caulton-Harris said.
Most of the time, large group protests don't require permits because of free speech freedoms under the First Amendment. A Springfield city spokesperson confirmed that organizers don't often request permits.
Still, the permit reminder comes a few days after Mayor Domenic Sarno had a large Black Lives Matter mural removed. It was painted on downtown property without the city's permission.
![The words "BLACK LIVES MATTER" were painted earlier this month in Springfield's Court Square. Mayor Domenic Sarno had the mural removed last weekend. Another city-sanctioned BLM mural will be painted in September.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cacccd5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/700x467+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fwfcr%2Ffiles%2F202007%2Fblm_one.jpg)
Another recent event at Springfield's Court Square connected to the Black Lives Matter movement promoted Black-owned businesses — and some sold food. Organizers called it a "protest."