Protesters Barred From Cheney's West Pt. Speech

[cal04]

“A federal appeals court on Friday denied an organization permission to stage an antiwar demonstration on Saturday on the grounds of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where Vice President Dick Cheney is to deliver the commencement address. The court said the mere presence of the vice president does not turn West Point into a public forum and is not an ‘open invitation’ to about 1,000 protesters who had hoped to march onto the campus.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/26/protestors-barred-from-cheneys-speech/

Protesters Barred From Cheney's West Pt. Speech
http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=79829&f=21

[TwilightGardener]

1. West Point is private?

[riderinthestorm]

6. That's a really interesting point, isn't West Point a taxpayer funded institution?

Doesn't that make it "open"? Do they have some kind of permitting process like most public parks for a gathering? Or are there some other kind of rules governing a gathering there?

This just seems like such an odd ruling.

[jmowreader]

7. West Point's an army base

You can't hold a protest on any other military base.

[TwilightGardener]

8. Ah, I should've known that--thanks!

[liberaldemocrat7]

17. No Free speech Zones. NO arrests. No marginalization by the press.

THE MILLION PHONE MARCH TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ

No Free speech Zones. NO arrests. No marginalization by the press.

You call Republican contributor and war contractor General Electric Corporation at 203-373-2211 and ask for the public relations department and give them an ultimatum. http://www.ge.com

GET THE GOP to END THE WAR or WE DON'T BUY YOUR PRODUCTS ANYMORE.

Tell the person that we will not buy GE light bulbs, refrigerators, ovens, stoves, telephones, TVs, radios, and everything with a GE logo on it until your CEO gets the Republican party to end the war and then Bush and Cheney to resign from office.


NO CEO WANTS THEIR TELEPHONE LINES TIED UP AND TO GET CALLS FROM THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY WHILE THEY LOSE MONEY. NO CEO. NOT ONE.

[MyNameGoesHere]

10. Yep that's why we have this little gem

Amendment I: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

EXCEPT MILITARY BASES BECAUSE YA KNOW WE HAVE TO LIVE IN A POLICE STATE AND STUFF.

I've taken the liberty of adding the update because that's the way it is right?

[jmowreader]

11. That's the way it's been for many, many years

Besides, what do you expect the new graduates to do, protest the fucking Vice President and get hit with Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman (the actual title of Article 133, Uniform Code of Military Justice) before the end of their first day as commissioned officers?

Of all the places to protest Darth Vader, West Point has got to be the worst.

[MyNameGoesHere]

12. No we should let the

governmet tell us when, where and how to protest of course. What you think we live in a democracy or something?

[sanskritwarrior]

13. Good christ

we do not live in a police state, you have never been able to protest on an Army base......

[jmowreader]

15. Thanks, Top

Although I'd have to admit that being commissioned into the United States Army in the middle of a war by a four-deferment chickenhawk would be the high point of MY military career.

Let 'em protest right outside the main gate. That's legal, and more effective than protesting on the grounds.

[MyNameGoesHere]

18. True

but let's be real. West Point is a fucking school. I don't think they have the secret squirrel decoder rings there. Maybe those cannons with the filled barrels could actually go off and harm civilians. Or maybe they will hurt themselves by stepping in a golf cup hole on the golf course? And last time i checked you could pretty much get a visitors entrance. That's real secure.

[muntrv]

2. If the grads had any gall, they would turn their backs on Darth Cheney while he speaks.

[EFerrari]

3. Keep the pressure on! K&R

[slank]

4. Maybe that way he won't get caught with hookers again

Maybe if the protesters aren't there he can go back to hiring hookers, just like he hired them from Deborah Jeane Palfrey, aka DC Madam, aka Pamela Martin & Associates.

Dick's gotta prick he has to keep happy.

Those protesters make that so much more problematic.

Christian NAZIs are willing to turn a blind eye while Cheney is turning tricks.

[jimshoes]

5. What do those protesters think

....we live in a free country or something? :argh:

[Tesla]

9. They will be saying the same thing about DC soon

[tyedyeto]

14. Doncha know? Cheney has a NO Fly-, No protest-

No Average Citizen- Zone around him wherever he goes.

Can't have any average Joe near where he's at.

In many cases (like the No Fly Zone) he doesn't even have to be there. For more info about Darth's no fly zones check out AOPA's site.

[screembloodymurder]

16. It's not enough to impeach Bush and Cheney.

Our military must be purged of their supporters.