The ruling Wednesday that all Masters demonstrators must protest at a preselected site didn't sit well with Martha Burk, who said the sheriff's ties to the Augusta National Golf Club may have influenced his decision.
In a morning news conference, Sheriff Ronnie Strength announced that a 5-acre tract in front of Savannah West Apartments on Washington Road is the designated protest site. The land, owned by the Augusta National and located about a third of a mile from the club's main gate, is being leased to the city for the demonstrations.
"The city of Augusta owns no property in this area, and this is the closest open space to the club entrance that would be safe for everyone and enable the city to treat everyone requesting a permit the same," the sheriff said.
Ms. Burk, the chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations, said the site was unacceptable. The women's group, along with the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of the city's protest ordinance.
"I think the decision is wrong," said Ms. Burk, who was in Atlanta on Wednesday. "The fact that the site offered is owned and controlled by the Augusta National is quite a statement."
The Augusta National issued a statement Wednesday refuting any insinuations that the club had a role in the decision. Ms. Burk and other groups plan to protest the club's all-male membership during this year's Masters Tournament.
"County officials requested this specific piece of property and in the interest of public safety, we agreed to provide the land to the county," the club's statement said. "It is entirely up to local officials to determine how that property will be used."
In her interview, Ms. Burk noted Sheriff Strength's relationship with Augusta National.
"I found out that Sheriff Strength is given complimentary tickets to the tournament," she said. "I believe that he does have some loyalty there."
THE SHERIFF and three of his officers - Col. Gary Powell, Capt. Jim Griffin and Lt. Jackie Klaus - are members of the Augusta National's police and parking committee. For their work in supervising the numerous deputies at the tournament, they get a complimentary patron's badge that can be given to a friend or family member, Capt. Griffin said recently.
Each year, Augusta National employs scores of deputies to work security and parking during Masters Week. In 2002, the club employed 75 deputies, along with 19 civilians, police Explorers, Georgia State Patrol officers, Richmond County Correctional Institute officers and a 911 dispatcher whose work for the National is coordinated by the sheriff's office.
The deputies take the week off and work in uniform, typically 10 to 12 hours a day, seven days in a row, according to Capt. Griffin, who coordinates off-duty assignments, or "specials," for the sheriff's office.
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Their paychecks come from the Augusta National, and that money is in addition to their vacation pay from the county. Deputies working specials for the Masters this year will earn $14 an hour.
When asked Wednesday night about the need for law enforcement officers at the tournament, Glenn Greenspan, the director of communications for Augusta National Golf Club, said the club does not discuss security issues.
Ed Presnell, the president of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, said an efficient police presence is essential at an event of the Masters' magnitude.
"The daily flow of traffic, the stoplights, people entering and leaving parking lots and private yards where there's parking, plus a huge amount of pedestrian traffic - all combined provides a high level of safety concerns," he said. "Over the years, our local law enforcement has done a tremendous job in managing this traffic flow. They know all the hazards and the potential risks."
Sheriff Strength said recently that his office's relationship with the golf club, and the benefits he and his deputies get from it, would not influence him.
"Would that affect my decision-making? Absolutely not," Sheriff Strength said of his free ticket. "I have to make decisions based entirely on what the law is, and also make decisions on public safety to ensure that everyone not only living in this community but every visitor in this community is protected. That decision will be made solely on that. Nothing else."
In a letter to Ms. Burk, the sheriff called her suggested location "unacceptable," saying it violates the city ordinance because it poses a danger to the public, restricts traffic flow and disturbs the peace.
The sheriff said publicity about Ms. Burk's request led residents near Magnolia Drive to complain about the possibility of damage. He said allowing her request could subject Augusta to a claim of "unconstitutional taking of private property" from property owners, renters and businesses using Magnolia Drive.
JANICE MATHIS, the vice president of Rainbow/PUSH, called the ruling "unfortunate" and said the proposed location doesn't afford protesters the access they want. The organization turned in its permit application to the sheriff's office Wednesday, asking for permission to protest at three intersections from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12.
The group wants as many as 100 people at each intersections, including the intersections of Magnolia Lane and Washington Road (in front of Augusta National), Washington and Berckmans roads and Wheeler and Highland roads. The sheriff's office has seven days to respond.
Ms. Mathis said the group wouldn't rule out ignoring the sheriff's ruling if legal action fails.
"Rainbow/PUSH has certainly at times in the past been willing to challenge unlawful restrictions," Ms. Mathis said from her office in Atlanta. "It's certainly not out of the question."
Violating the ordinance is a misdemeanor, punishable by a $1,000 fine per person and/or 60 days in jail.
Sheriff Strength suggested in his letter to Ms. Burk that representatives of each protest group meet to divvy up the designated site.
"Please let me know if you are willing to participate," the sheriff wrote.
The site selection didn't bother one protester. Todd Manzi, the founder of a group that plans to protest against Ms. Burk, www.theburkstopshere.com, said he's happy as long as he can be near the NCWO chairwoman.
"Today's approval is fine with me as long as I'm in proximity to her," he said.
The controversy surrounding the Masters also played out in Atlanta on Wednesday.
State Rep. Sue Burmeister, R-Augusta, and Elaine Clark Smith, of Augusta, attended a conference Wednesday that had Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Ms. Burk as hosts at the Apex Museum. While Ms. Franklin thanked attendees for the "dialogue" on the Augusta National, what was said was mostly about "power and corporate hypocrisy" at the all-male club, Mrs. Burmeister said.
"It was a joke," she said. "It was so one-sided."
When Ms. Clark Smith rose to point out some inaccuracies and defend the club, she was heard and then ignored, with Ms. Franklin then rising to end the conference, Mrs. Burmeister said.
"There was no dialogue," she said.
Atlanta apparently is going to play a role in the protest planned for April 12. Materials distributed at the conference encouraged participants to go to a central location in Atlanta to be bused in that day for the protest.
Staff writers Johnny Edwards, Heidi Coryell Williams and Tom Corwin contributed to this article.
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