In other words: A discussion of The Bush Administration
America the Unconstitutional
Here's one way to get rid of political dissent: take away freedom of speech, then give the CIA the power to arrest you, on the say so of the president! See, we're all "terrorists" now if we don't go along. Here's what your fellow Americans think, from today's NY Times:
To the Editor:
Re "Interrogating the Protesters" (editorial, Aug. 17):
Absent probable cause or reasonable suspicion that a person is engaging in or will engage in criminal activity, the F.B.I.'s targeting and questioning of political protesters is antithetical to America's commitment to the First Amendment right to engage in peaceful, nonviolent protest activity. The reported F.B.I. activity interferes with and chills longstanding First Amendment freedoms.
The F.B.I. should explain what it is doing and the basis for its actions. Also, local law enforcement officials, including the New York City Police Department, should state whether they are engaging in similar tactics.
The right to protest is a fundamental right, and it should not be undermined.
Norman Siegel
New York, Aug. 17, 2004
The writer is a civil rights lawyer.
•
To the Editor:
Re "F.B.I. Goes Knocking for Political Troublemakers" (front page, Aug. 16): At what point did political protest - sometimes known as political expression, sometimes known as free speech - become terrorism?
Lawrence H. Pelofsky
Cooperstown, N.Y., Aug. 16, 2004
•
To the Editor:
Re "Interrogating the Protesters" (editorial, Aug. 17): You do not know if the activities of the protesters will be or may be used as a cover for terrorist activity.
Warren Andrews
Orlando, Fla., Aug. 17, 2004
•
To the Editor:
What a shame that the F.B.I. considers those who plan to exercise their First Amendment rights during the Republican convention to be troublemakers.
Joe Parris, a bureau spokesman, was right when he said that "criminal behavior isn't covered by the First Amendment." But F.B.I. agents are knocking on people's doors because they think that people might behave criminally at an event that has not yet taken place.
This is a grave violation of our basic civil liberties. And the F.B.I.'s emphasis on naming names smacks of McCarthyism.
Patricia Grossman
Brooklyn, Aug. 16, 2004
•
To the Editor:
I was going back and forth about whether to come to New York to protest at the Republican convention. But since I've learned that the F.B.I. has been deployed to intimidate protesters, I no longer have any doubt about what to do.
It is no longer just a matter of political protest. It is a matter of defending our constitutional rights. I'm coming to New York.
Peter Scotto
South Hadley, Mass., Aug. 17, 2004
The liberty-hating neocons driving the Confederate Bush machine must be good readers of history: they're excellent Maoists. Hey, it worked for Stalin and Hitler too.
- Michael 11:09 AM - [PermaLink] -
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