Free Speech Gulag: Can the DNC Cage 18 million Pumas?
Posted: July 4, 2008 Filed under: Hillary Clinton: Her Campaign for All of Us, No Obama, PUMA | Tags: DNC convention shuts down free speech, first amendment, PUMA 10 CommentsThe Denver Post has announced the plans for the DNC Free Speech Zone for the Denver Convention.
source: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_9744092?source=pop_section_news&_requestid=7600054
“The fence around the public demonstration zone outside the Democratic National Convention will be chicken wire or chain link, authorities revealed in U.S. District Court today. That may allow protesters to be seen and heard by delegates going in and out of the Pepsi Center during the convention. 
But the American Civil Liberties Union and several advocacy groups have filed an amended complaint to their lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service and the city and county of Denver that says protesters and demonstrators may have their First Amendment rights violated by security restrictions.
The ACLU has said it wants to avoid the conditions that existed during the 2004 convention in Boston, where protesters were caged, infuriating First Amendment advocates.
The first phase of the lawsuit asked the court to compel the city and the Secret Service to disclose the information on protest restrictions.
During today’s hearing before Judge Marcia S. Krieger, the attorney for the groups, Steve Zansberg, said the city and the Secret Service had provided the information sought in Phase One.
The second phase of the lawsuit will address whether the restrictions are unconstitutional. Zansberg also represents The Denver Post on First Amendment issues, though the paper is not a party in this dispute.
The groups agreed to go to trial on those issues on July 29 and the judge will visit the site the night before to assess the restrictions.
Guess Pumas and folks that are planning to March on the DNC better be prepared to be caged. Of course, I’m not sure how well Pumas do in cages. Hopefully, this court challenge will stop further erosion of first amendment rights. According to another article in the Post, these are some changes being requested by the ACLU and 13 other groups.
An increase in the size and location of the public demonstration zone in Lot A of the Pepsi Center so that people in the zone can access delegates through sight and sound and an electrically-powered sound amplification system.
Change the parameters of the zone to accommodate more people marching to the Pepsi Center during the convention.
Stop searches of people or possessions where such searches are based on a person’s entry into the zone rather than “probable cause” or “reasonable suspicion.”
Allow for the distribution of leaflets and pamphlets to the delgates.
Allow for parades that pass by the Pepsi Center along the south side of Chopper Circle and the adjoining east side of Ninth Street during times when the delegates are present.
Allow alternative parades requested by Recreate 68 to the federal courthouse on Aug. 25 and by Escuela Tlatelolco to Sunken Gardens Park on Aug. 26.
Right now, protesters will be kept in an area where they will not be able to leaflet convention attendees. They will not be allowed to parade when conventioneers are entering or leaving the Pepsi Convent Center. They will at least be seen. However, this effectively blocks any access protesters will have to their supposedly democratically elected representatives.
So much for Free Speech.
Happy Independence Day!
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Happy Independence Day!
That phrase has more importance today than any time in recent history.
Especially for those who were formerly Democrats: who either were thrown under the bus by the Chicago Combine, or those who voluntarily declared they were no longer Democrats on May 31, 2008 (or before or later) because the Democratic Party no longer represented the ideals on which it was founded.
For all those who are either no longer Democrats or those who are hanging on to the shredded remnants of what was once the Democratic Party in hopes that they may realize in Denver the reconstitution of the party, one thing you have in common is your Independence.
You have your Independence from the Tyranny of Oppression by the Will of the Party Elites.
You have your Independence of Thought, Word and Deed.
You have your Independence from Undemocratic Processes.
You have your Independence to declare a New Union.
No matter how you arrived at the point where you declared your Independence from the oppression of Donation Without Representation (a voluntary form of taxation) and Election Without Representation (called Voter Suppression), you are now part of a New Union.
A New Union formed of Independent Thinkers who oppose the Party Elites in their call for Party Unity.
This New Union recognizes that this so-called Party Unity is nothing more than a guise for; a Winning at all Costs Coalition that will therein destroy the once Noble Democratic Party.
This New Union understands that real Unity is the shared idea that placing Country before Party is the truest and most noble voice of Independence and Democracy!
I salute you all today, you New Union of true American Independents.
Today is truly your and our Independence Day.
Time to put some fear of re-election into the assholes sitting in the halls of congress.
When the Democratic Party has so-called “free speech zones” ala Bush then we know they don’t believe in Democracy anymore than the Republicans do.
Democrats were elected into a majority to END this frakkin illegal and immoral war. All they do is talk about it and then vote to fund it. At least the Republicans are voting to fund something they believe in. Our moronic party votes for something they “claim” to want to end. So end it then!
I have been a Democrat for over 45 years and cannot ever remember being so thoroughly disgusted with the party. Disgusted enough that I now consider myself an Independent.
Don’t count on my vote you posers, cause I own my vote. And I sure as hell don’t much feel like giving it to you!
You fake democrats do know that rioting is illegal.Yea the black man won, get over it.4,100 troops dead and you’re upset because of some fake slight against Hillary.Yes she experienced sexism it came from Bill Oreilly and Sean Hannity her new friends.I don’t see you feminist outrage at the treatment of Michelle Obama and he daughters.Oh yea, I forgot their black, ya’ll can’t help them. You republiklans have fun in Denver when you get arrested for rioting.
Wow, look here Kid Funkadelic where I complain about treatment of Michelle Obama on June 18th. My oh, my it includes complaints of sexist treatment!
https://dakiniland.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/queensbury-rules-and-politics/
Try again when you’re not so angry you can’t see the truth … also go back to all the posts I make quoting the Black Agenda report and the Black Commentator and they’re criticism of Obama. Guess that would be too much like work. Much easier to play the race card so many times that it will loose its effect!
Let’s see the Black Agenda Report is saying that he’s not Marxist enough.PUMA people are saying that he is a marxist. they don’t want a N-word in there.Why are you listening to a ex-CIA guy,Larry C. Johnson.Why do you go to Minneapolis,you don’t want to hurt the republiklans hun? Harriet Christian is a bigot..Hillary acted racistwith her Klanswoman routine.When the Trinity Church was being attacked by Fox she diss them.Now Rev.Wright came to her aid, the new minister gets death threats.Fox is destroying America but Hillary said they are the most fair station,bull.Why do these PUMA sites connect to riot gear sites?
Once again dakinikat you see with your own eyes why it is impossible to have a rational conversation with an Obamacrat.
Name-calling and lies is all they got.
Oh and race. Everyone that doesn’t support Obama is a racist. I am so over caring about that. Call me what you will , I still own my vote and I can still vote for anyone I choose. And that sure as hell will not be Obama.
Hey are you still going to riot in Denver?Bush might impose Martial Law.Maybe that ‘s what you repuibliklans want.
It’s hard to respond to an accusation that confuses protesting and acts of peaceful assembly and free speech–all clearly protected by the first amendment–and willful acts of destruction–rioting–which is a crime. It’s also difficult to watch accusations of racism being tossed around in such a cavalier fashion.
Kid, I quit dumping you in the spam folder because I really don’t like suppressing people. But you’re way over the top. I get my news and my information from a number of places. Not just ones that feed my mind what my ego wants to hear. I’m getting tired of being called names because I use my brain and search out the truth.
I live in the ninth ward of New Orleans. My city council man is a black man (and I worked for his election), my state senator is a black man, my state representative is a black woman, my mayor is a black man, and my congressman is a black man. I’ve voted for all of them at one time or another. Although since my state senator and my congressman are now under indictments I voted for the black man and the black woman that ran against them. You know nothing of me or the other folks that post here. You just throw us into one big kettle and label us with anger. Either curb your anger and quit calling folks names or I will see that your posts don’t find the light of day here.
The world is a playground, and life is pushing my swing.NattyNatsNatty Nats
Art is permitted to survive only if it renounces the right to be different, and integrates itself into the omnipotent realm of the profane.TheodorAdornoTheodor Adorno