Restrictions imposed on protesters at Md. town hall

Protesters planning on attending Sen. Ben Cardin’s (D-Md.) town hall meeting on Monday at Towson University will not be able to bring signs into the meeting and will be restricted to sidewalks away from the building.

“Towson University will not allow that at any of their facilities,” Cardin spokeswoman Susan Sullam said. “This is a town hall meeting. It’s not a rally and it is not a protest.”

Sullam told the Towson Times that 1,600 people have indicated they will attend the event at the suburban Baltimore campus and that many of them will protest against health insurance reform legislation.

A pro-health bill group has also organized a counter-protest at the town hall.

According to the Times, the meeting’s venue can only accommodate 500 people and has no standing room.