Home of the Brave, Land of the Free Speech Zones

[Judi Lynn]

Home of the Brave, Land of the Free Speech Zones
October 13, 2016
by Adam LaMarra

In the last four major 2016 election cycle events – the two nominating conventions and the two Presidential debates – one thing was noticeably absent from media coverage: protesters. The hosting cities of nationally televised events colluded with the Secret Service and local police to conceal any appearance of dissent. In a glaring violation of the First Amendment, protesters at nationally televised events are only legally allowed to express themselves within the confines of fenced enclosures located nearly a mile away from event sites. The government has named these areas “free speech zones.”

The zones are surrounded by barricaded chicken-wire fences that are remarkably similar to the fences that line the US-Mexico border. Scores of police herd protesters into the region with roadblocks, which prevents protesters access to the forum against which they intend to voice dissent. “Free speech zones” are designed to conceal protestors from the media and shield event attendees from hearing their message. Protesters are subject to arrest and trespass charges if they demonstrate outside of the allocated zone. If convicted, the maximum punishment under the law is a ten year prison sentence.

Any event that the Department of Homeland Security labels as a National Special Security Event (NSSE) permits authorities to restrict protesters to “free speech zones.” NSSE’s are not limited to political events. For instance, NCAA games and NFL games have previously been designated as NSSE.

The legality that permits the government to restrict open expression stems from a statute passed in 1971. The law, Section 1752 of the US Code, forbids people from entering restricted government areas or impeding official government business. The legislation was passed presumably to prevent large-scale protests from occurring at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions of 1972 after marches outside the previous Democratic National Convention disrupted the event.

More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/10/13/home-of-the-brave-land-of-the-free-speech-zones/

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

1. This ought to be unconstitiutional.

Treating protesters like criminals.

[benld74]

2. 1st one I recall was during W admin

[Blue_Tires]

3. LaMarra must be new to this country...?

Either that, or he's like 16 or something...

Regardless, protests have been alive and well (and *visible*) elsewhere in the campaign... Dudebros thinking they're going to storm the convention or debate stage are living in fantasyland...