America's Voice Becoming Hoarse: as Donkeys and Elephants Convene, We Must Act

In the city Americans proudly hold up as the birthplace of true freedom, the First Amendment took a week off during the Democratic National Convention.  When tens of thousands convene in New York soon at anti-government rallies, will their right to dissent be trapped underneath a policeman's baton or held high on Lady Liberty's arm?  Whatever happens, everyone must take notice.

 

Do you have an opinion?  On anything war, abortion, sex, the local weed ordinance?  I know you do.

 

So do I.  And were in trouble, folks.

 

As the United States gears up for the possibility of four more years of George W. Bush horror to many, necessity to others the public is starting to see the first large scale protests in a nation that may soon erupt in civil disobedience for the first time in many years.  July 26-29 at the Democratic Convention, activists representing a vast range of causes gathered.  By the end of the week, no message was greater than the highlighting of a glaring error in our democratic process.

 

While earlier in the month debate raged over a possible Amendment to the Constitution stripping Massachusetts gays of their marriage rights, another amendment was calling out for attention.  Namely, that amendment is the First. America seems to be forgetting free speech even exists.

 

Bush supporters, Kerry supporters, Greens, Socialists, Anarchists, gays, gay-bashers, Jews, Palestinians, fundamentalists and several other groups all had a presence in the streets of Boston.  The largest protests were staged by anti-war and pro-life activists--two groups that arent exactly the most likely to erupt in violence.  Their numbers were around 3,000 at most a fraction of those expected at the Republican National Convention in New York starting August 29.

 

All were upset that blocks away from the site of the Boston Tea Party, the dissident act marking the beginning of Americas history of civil disobedience, their message was being stifled by the same government our founders had in mind that historic night in 1773.  While our new King George may or may not have had anything to do with the proceedings at the Democratic Convention, it has been under his guidance in a post-September 11 world that our liberties have been compromised, and not all Americans are willing to hand over their rights when confronted by a line of police.

 

Some protestors locked themselves in mock prison cells or put hoods, meant to represent both the Iraq torture scandals and their inability to be seen or heard, over their heads.  The rowdiest night was actually a day after the convention itself had ended when approximately 400 protestors were involved in a shoving match with police after several people burned a US flag and effigies of John Kerry and George W. Bush.  The police were out in force, proudly wielding clubs, pepper spray and body armor better fit for an Iraq firefight or an Endor Storm Trooper battle than Boston Common.  Theyve been building up all week to beat people up, one activist told Boston.com.  They felt like they had their chance.

 

However, the most grievous offense against Liberty is one that has been seen before, the use of protest pens.  To their credit, all the major activist groups boycotted what some termed the Internment Camp.  The only reputable group to use it went by the slogan We can escape our prison, but Palestinians cannot escape theirs.

 

While in a prime location directly across from the FleetCenter, a look away from the home of the Celtics and Bruins would make one think they were not in the "home of the brave," but at best Guantanamo Bay or a Chechnyan prison yard.  The dirty pen is surrounded by a huge chain link fence, topped off with rolls of barbed wire and situated underneath a railroad track.  The only hint that those inside were not in fact prisoners was a spirited game of Frisbee taking place in the wide-open space.

 

One wonders whether, if the pen were packed with pesky peaceniks, if gas or fire in the pen would likely result in a mad crush reminiscent of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster.

 

Not all the security measures throughout the week, however, dealt with those pesky peaceniks.  Average Bostonians rushed for vacation time over the weekend, but those that stayed were subject to random searches and drivers license checks.

 

Checking papers at random was fit for Red Moscow, but does not belong in Boston.  As the liberal blog Talk Left (www.talkleft.com) addressed Bostonians, whom the media has reported as being fine with the searches, remember that what you dont object to now may stick around a lot longer than you think.  Once we give the Government new powers, it rarely gives them back.  How long until these Fourth Amendment emergency exceptions are here to stay?

 

The media would love for citizens to be fine with these emergency exceptions.  The less voice the people have, the more the public turns to the squawk box, and the more Big Media can peddle its abominable brothy brand of infotainment.

 

August 29, dubbed Judgment Day by some in the NYPD, will mark the beginning of protests in that city and quite possibly an even bigger wake-up call for the United States.  In the borough of Chelsea, many elderly residents have been urged to stay inside, stock up on food and water and carry identification at all times during the convention.  Many have interpreted the request as an attempt to dissuade them from joining in the protests themselves.

 

Some questions to keep in mind during the Republican Convention:

 

1. Will the protests be nonviolent?

(DNC: Yes, other than some insignificant shoving and yelling matches.)

 

2. Will the protests use civil disobedience creatively or simply march?  In New York, one organization is encouraging New Yorkers to disrupt business by not showing up for work during the convention.  And a group of anarchists plans massive sit-down protests if they're threatened by police.

(DNC: One highlight of the week was the display of 900 pairs of combat boots in a park.  Despite some creativity on the part of the protestors, the events were mostly run-of-the-mill.)

 

3. Will activists boycott the designated protest areas or pens?

(DNC: Several of the few who used the protest pen were either dressed as prison guards or detainees.)

 

4. Will the police be responsible in their use of force?

(DNC: Yes Boston police are known for leniency, but some unlucky protestors would disagree.)

 

5. Will the protests generate ample media coverage?

(DNC: Depends on where you get your news from.  Political blogs and other online sources were teeming with information, discussion and pictures of the protests, but traditional media coverage was noticeably little.)

 

6.  Will the protestors unite against the threat to free speech, against Bush, both or neither?

(DNC: The protests only vaguely had to do with the Democratic Convention itself, and by the middle of the week, the most visible themes were the restrictions on free speech and privacy.)

 

7.  Will the protests cause widespread disruption?

(DNC: Bostonians left the city en masse during the Democratic Convention, bewildering business owners who expected a bounce even higher than that of John Kerry.  But the empty tables were mostly due to the random searches and traffic congestionthe actual protests were tame.

 

Will our right to free speech soon let us do nothing more than stand stationary grasping a sign?  Shortly, the people of New York must lead us away from the threat of a government-controlled state (are we at war with Eurasia or Eastasia?) and into an age where free thought is accepted and encouraged.

 

Because of the pro-government nature of the formal events in New York City, another pressing question looms: does our current administration more closely resemble one from a time when the Liberty State was home to the nations capital, or one from the dystopian world of George Orwell?  Islamic detainees in Guantanamo Bay already have the answer, and it isnt pretty.

 

Next month, with ample effort, the citizens of New York and America will pressure the government into giving us a better answer.  If it isnt good enough, we must continue to act until our freedoms no longer cower under the states black baton.

 

 

Brian Hokanson is a writer from Minnesota who enjoys long protest marches as well as long walks on the beach.  He can be reached via his blog at http://theyetimn.blogspot.com.

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