PITTSBURGH — A state senator from Pittsburgh wants the city to issue a permit to allow activists to gather at Point State Park the day before the Group of 20 summit begins in September.

Democrat Sen. Jim Ferlo wants the permit from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 23 to provide a safe forum for religious, environmental and other groups interested in speaking about the gathering of world economic leaders. The G-20 summit is scheduled Sept. 24-25 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, about a mile away from the park.

Ferlo says he's not asking for a "free speech zone" and that he believes activists should be able to protest wherever they'd like.

Pittsburgh police anticipate they'll need about 4,000 officers to control crowds. The city has fewer than 900 officers.