Supremes uphold conviction in landmark free speech case

[Lori Price CLG]

This one seems to have slipped under the radar...

Supremes uphold conviction in landmark free speech case by Chris Kromm 18 Jan 2006

"Yesterday, the Supreme Court made a key decision which even federal officals admit will have major implications for free speech across the country.

With all eyes on the Alito confirmation non-aftermath, the Court hastily refused to hear the appeal of South Carolina activist Brett Bursey, the first and only person to be prosecuted under the statute governing 'Threats to the President.'

Bursey's crime? Four years ago, when President (sic) Bush came to Columbia, SC to whip up support for the Iraq war, Bursey -- a leader of the South Carolina Progressive Network -- inserted himself into the pro-Bush crowd with a sign saying 'No more war for oil, don't invade Iraq.'

For these unthinkable sentiments, Bursey was commanded to retreat to an Orwellian-named 'free speech zone' or be charged with trespassing. As Bursey relates, 'I told the police that I was in a free speech zone called the United States of America.'"

<snip>

"It's no exaggeration to say the Supreme Court's decision to let the conviction stand sets a dangerous precedent. A Secret Service official in South Carolina, Neal Dolan, admitted as much in Charleston last year when he declared that 'If Bursey's prosecution holds, we have another dozen cases' across the country.'

To pay his $500 fine, Bursey is asking 499 other citizens concerned about free speech to bring a dollar and join him at federal court to protest the decision (date to be announced)."

<snip>

Lori Price
http://www.legitgov.org/index.html#breaking_news

[AX10]

1. It's called Fascism.

This is why I partake in boycotts. It's the only way. Deprive the enemy.

[loudsue]

8. BUT.... It ONLY applies to liberals, remember? Wingnuts don't have

to stay in the "free speech" zones. They can crash any party they want to. They did it to Kerry's speeches.

:kick::kick::kick:

[Lori Price CLG]

10. I have witnessed that hypocrisy first-hand, and asked the police why...

the pro-Bush 'people' were not confined to the 'Free Speech Zones.'

Lori Price

[mongo]

17. Me too

on both sides.

The cops chased us off a public street that was lined with people waiting for Bush's motorcade to go by -- because we had anti-bush signs.

But a Kerry rally? the entrance was covered with protesters, with giant posters of aborted fetus's. Every person attending the rally had to walk past these idiots.

[cascadiance]

2. Isn't the Supreme Court already right wing enough for the fundies?

Hell, they'll hear Anna Nicole Smith appeals, but turn down this one fundamental case, as well as other cases such as those of security workers Sibel Edmonds' and Jeffrey Sterling's. This place is becoming increasingly Orwellian! Mike Malloy, keep reading 1984 every night now! If you don't read it quickly you might not get to the end of it. And that won't likely be due to Bush getting impeached either!

[mom cat]

3. Alito must be stopped. Ignore those who say it can't be done.

Fight as if this was the last week of the campaign!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2054499#2054534

[Lori Price CLG]

4. Thanks for the link - I used a phone # w.in the post, and...

voiced my opposition to Alito.

Lori

[mom cat]

6. Great going. We need to keep up the pressure on all the senators.

[sui generis]

5. if I were there I'd go

we should get a thousand people to bring fifty cents each, in pennies.

I just hope the republicans remember that any sword you hone can cut either way. Personally, I can't wait.

What are we going to do with these people when we've taken back over? They will still be there, festering like the boils on the butt of humanity that they are, just waiting to infect the system all over again.

[Lori Price CLG]

7. Right, pennies - that's a better idea!! n/t

[BushOut06]

11. 50,000 pennies - let's get moving

Give me an address, I'll put a penny in an envelope and send it.

[sandnsea]

9. Question

Does anybody know how the free speech zones worked under Clinton? I don't know if they segregated people based on their views or whether everybody had to go into particular areas. I think they have a right to create a sort of passage area, so a President can get from one area to another without having a mob attack a car or something, ala the Beatles. But who gets put where shouldn't be dependent on whether they present themselves as supporters or not, that clearly has nothing to do with security and would be bad security anyway.

[bettyellen]

12. has nothing to do with the president being safe...

they kept protesters far away, outta earshot and sight and behind chain link fences- to make them look criminal IF they got any media attention at all. keeps the event looking 100% bush friendly.
the security for the pres has nothing to do with it, it's unbelievably tight at all times, he doesn't ge near any crowds unless it's a special photo op of pre-selected people.

[sandnsea]

14. Yeah, I said that

I was just wondering how free speech zones were handled under Clinton because that's when they started. I'm wondering if Clinton used them to provide secure passage and Bush changed the policy; or whether Clinton used them the same way Bush does.

[bettyellen]

15. the free speech zones- chain link pens placed on far fringes

from the main crowd, started under clinton? do you remember examples of this?
or was it a different thing but they call it the same?

[sandnsea]

19. Well yes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_speech_zones

But I don't know whether they used them for general security and everybody had to stay within certain areas for genuine security and safe passage purposes, or whether they were strictly for protestors. I figured somebody would know and be able to fill in on how we got from there to the Bursey arrest, which is absolutely outrageous, but the point of outrage for me is the separation between supporters and a peaceful demonstrator.

[bettyellen]

20. interesting- i think the thing with the WTO meetings, if i recall

correctly, was that the entire crowd was protesting. and it was big international muckety mucks and the crowd control in general was ramped up for everyone.
it's kind of different in a way to the way bush has segregated the crowds, and put opponents only behind fences. it's not so much about security, as it is manipulating the way the event is portrayed. i've never seen it hinted that clinton ever did the same thing. but even though it's implemenation is waaay different, i see how the RW could try and use the WTO as an excuse.

[sandnsea]

21. That's what I was getting at

I don't remember exactly how it was done with Clinton, that's why I asked.

[bettyellen]

22. i can't imagine anyone going to the WTO who wasn't

protesting, and there's a lot more civil disobedience planned for sure. there was an insane amount of security, and i recall things getting pretty rough.
but yeah, i could see them using it as an excuse for what shrub has been doing- to segregate the audience.
nyc has made it very difficult for protesters too, we have a repug mayor and the 9/11 excuse.

[Nikki Stone 1]

13. The eminent domain ruling made us all renters; this one makes us serfs

Welcome to the dictatorship.

[Poll_Blind]

18. Damn good point...If you ever write anything more in-depth about....

...these two events and their implications, please PM me! I would really love to read it!

PB

[mongo]

16. One more shot in the head to the constitution

America as we knew it is not officially dead.

[Lori Price CLG]

24. This Whore Court decision received no media coverage, that's the

most amazing aspect.

Lori Price

[Tyler Durden]

23. Why does this surprise ANYONE??

The moment they pulled off setting up their "Free Speech Zones," and the Capitol wasn't MOBBED, this was a foregone conclusion.