In St. Paul, Minnesota, law enforcement agents raided homes and arrested major organizers in anticipation of their protest of the Republican National Convention. There were no arrest warrants, and they were not charged. They were held on probable cause of conspiracy to commit riot, conspiracy to commit property damage, and conspiracy to commit civil disorder, conveniently just before they were to implement the protest they had been leading.
- Is it a free country when protest leaders are arrested preemptively for attempting to exercising their right to both assemble and disagree?
- These were planned, peaceful protest. Why were the civilians under surveillance and arrested before the protest even took place?
- Around 800 protesters were arrested during the convention, yet officers admit "only a handful of protesters were violent." (watch officials respond to protesters at a press conference) Can other citizens expect to be arrested when they protest?
- Are YOU willing to defend your 1st amendment rights, or let acquiescence continue to rule?
Reporters Arrested for Reporting
On September 1st, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! was arrested in Minnesota for reporting on the protest at the Republican National Convention. (Click here to read the story)
How extreme do circumstances need to be before people begin to act? Arresting citizens without charges or due process violates the 5th amendment, but that's exactly what the Patriot Act does. Arresting people for protesting or reporting on protesting violates the 1st amendment, but its been happening routinely since 2001. Dissent is being met with state sponsored force. Those who see can't wait until they are the targets of this force to see its folly, and those who agree with the current administration's policies won't forever, and will be too late when the do find themselves on the opposing side. If Americans don't act soon to revive real democracy, we will all be the Facist we preach against, if it's not too late already.
How extreme do circumstances need to be before people begin to act? Arresting citizens without charges or due process violates the 5th amendment, but that's exactly what the Patriot Act does. Arresting people for protesting or reporting on protesting violates the 1st amendment, but its been happening routinely since 2001. Dissent is being met with state sponsored force. Those who see can't wait until they are the targets of this force to see its folly, and those who agree with the current administration's policies won't forever, and will be too late when the do find themselves on the opposing side. If Americans don't act soon to revive real democracy, we will all be the Facist we preach against, if it's not too late already.
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