AUGUSTA, Ga., April 8 (UPI) -- A federal judge ruled late Monday that the city of Augusta had the right to prevent protests from taking place at the front gate of the Augusta National Golf Club during Masters week.
That was a setback for Martha Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations, who has demanded the all-male club open its membership to females.
The city has set aside a two-acre vacant lot for protests during this week's Masters, but Burk said that site was not close enough to the course. About 200 people plan to stage a rally on Saturday.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dudley H. Bowen agreed with city officials, who have said the area in front of the club is much too crowded during tournament days to allow people to protest there.
Bowen said the area in question was, "profoundly congested" during Masters week. He also said the sidewalk and street in front of the club presented, "a realistic, plausible, even probable potential for some accidental injury."
"We are pleased with the fact that the ordinance was upheld as constitutional and our application of the ordinance was upheld," said Augusta City Attorney Jim Wall.
Burk said that while she was disappointed with the ruling, she hoped to reach some compromise with the city before Saturday to move her group closer to the course.
