Winter Park Approves Limits on Protests and Activity at Library and Events Center
In a split vote, the City Commission approved a new ordinance that they claim is based on complaints over photo shoots and one small protest at the public buildings
July 10, 2025
By Beth Kassab
The Winter Park City Commission on Wednesday voted 3-2 to approve an ordnance that draws a boundary around the Library and Events Center as essentially a new “no protest” or gathering zone.
Mayor Sheila DeCiccio and commissioners Craig Russell and Kris Cruzada voted in favor of the ordinance. Commissioners Warren Lindsey and Marty Sullivan voiced strong objections to the change and voted against it.
DeCiccio and city staff say the ordinance is needed to protect groups and individuals who rent space in the buildings for weddings, corporate meetings and other events from disruptions from people who may want to stage protests or use the $41 million complex’s unique architecture as a backdrop for extensive photo shoots or other gatherings.
The Winter Park Events Center opened in late 2021 and was designed by British architect David Adjaye.
The new “no protest” area — the blue line drawn around the complex in the image above — mostly hugs the outline of the buildings, but also includes a large amount of outdoor space on the southeast corner of the building, which has large windows looking out onto Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
Lindsey, a criminal defense attorney, noted the irony of the city imposing what he views as First Amendment restrictions on the same week Winter Park plans to dedicate its commissioned larger-than-life bronze statue of King at an installation in the park known as Unity Corner.
“I think it’s interesting that this coming up Saturday we are going to be dedicating the statue … probably within 200 or 300 yards of the restricted areas,” he said, noting that the monument includes the words “courage is the power of the mind to overcome fear.” “I think a lot of times there a temptation that because we’re fearful of something we will overreact and Martin Luther King Jr. provided us instruction on that.”
He called the ordinance an “unnecessary use of government power.”
“We should be very, very careful how we use our power, especially how we use our police power,” he said. “And the only real argument for passing this thing is to deal with a hypothetical problem that has not occurred … that is something we should be very careful about doing.”
A list of 15 “disturbances” since the beginning of this year provided by the city is not enough justification for the ordinance, Lindsey and Sullivan argued. Of those, 10 are described as “photo shoot with props” or “prom photos.” One noted a “changing booth” and “lights.”
The other disturbances were listed as “cars blocking traffic” or “skateboarding/rollerblading/scooter.” Only one was listed as “group with signs” or anything resembling a demonstration or a protest.
A police dispatch call log noted someone called police just after 6 p.m. on May 15 to report “6-7 people outside on the south side near the lake, holding up signs protesting.”
About the same time the police arrived, the caller called back to report “her boss says they are allowed to be there.”
At the time, the events center was being rented by the Orlando Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society for an event featuring Josh Blackman, who was recently appointed by President Donald Trump to the Religious Liberty Commission’s advisory board of legal experts. Blackman is a constitutional law professor at South Texas College of Law Houston.
Winter Park attorney Michael Sasso is the president of the Orlando chapter.
Sullivan said people should be required to pull permits for elaborate photo shoots and that there are laws on the books already to address cars blocking traffic or disorderly conduct. But the kind of demonstration that occured on May 15 should not be limited.
“I have it from a reliable source there were four people at 5:30 in the afternoon standing there with small signs,” he said. “To me, that should be an allowable public gathering and that in my mind illustrates how this [ordinance] goes beyond what is needed … this prohibits activities that in my mind are permitted First Amendment activities.
City Attorney Daniel Langley argued that the city is allowed to put more restrictions on the library and events center because it’s not “traditional public forum” because it’s rented out and used by other entities.
He said that perimeter is drawn tightly around the buildings and, in many cases, “they could move two feet into the parking lot and continue that activity.”
The ordinance calls for a warning to be issued before people are trespassed from the area and potentially given a fine.
Commissioner Craig Russell said he is in favor of the ordinance because it’s about safety and protecting the space for those renting the venue.
“… We’re also not trying to recreate Tiananmen Square either as a city, so I think this is a very reasonable measure,” he said, referring to the 1989 crackdown on protests by the Chinese government. “Out of all the green spaces we have in the city, why there? It’s a unique space and we have the responsibility to protect it … I truly believe it’s not about stifling rights or anything of that nature.”
DeCiccio, also an attorney, cited a U.S. Supreme Court case over a municipal bandshell that she said allows the city to put restrictions in place.
She said the ordinances “does not silence voices,” but sets aside a “relatively small area” to be protected from potential disruptions.
WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com
I think this is a violation of people’s first amendment rights. Unfortunately, I think the city is setting itself up for lawsuits. Please let residence know what the president was for such an ordinance. What happened?
The decision to create a defined “no protest zone” for the Events Center is smart public administration and good business. The Center is rented by all sorts of persons and entities that expect and deserve the ability to use the premises in a manner consistent with their contracts, without undue interference. Many event and Convention/Trade facilities nationwide have such defined areas as well as defined areas where protests can occur.
The Orange County Convention Center is an example in our own backyard.
Our library and events center were built with taxpayer dollars—-and yes, with taxpayer voices, both pro and con. Given that history, It hardly makes sense to purposely limit any residents’ right to free speech at this particular public facility.
As prior arguments maintain, photo and video shoots are not demonstrative reasons for this ordinance. As one commissioner has said so well “a solution looking for a problem”.
Moreover, I can’t find any overwhelming citizen outcries for this ordinance. Crickets.
It would be much more expeditious to control potential scheduling conflicts via the permit process. Put some protocols in place. Post signage: Permits required.
Given the fact that Central Park was recently used as a promo for Visit Orlando—with no reference to Winter Park—whatsoever—perhaps our city permitting process could use both a review and an upgrade? Just saying…..
-C J Williams
Take a look at how the Orange County Convention Center handles this issue. Sure seems similar to what Winter Park has proposed.