The People's House?
Am I the only one bothered by the notion that you can be arrested for wearing a political t-shirt in the Capitol Building? As far as the news reports seem to indicate, Cindy Sheehan wasn't causing a disruption, wasn't screaming obscenities at the podium or anything like that, and she was an invited guest of a Member of Congress. Yet she's arrested and charged with "unlawful conduct" for exercising her First Amendment rights to free speech in what is arguably the temple of American democracy? Now, granted, she may have planned this. Certainly, she's been involved in some strange actions lately, particularly her eye-roll-inducing decision to appear with that socialist blowhard and military coup-leader Hugo Chavez. Actions like that don't help her cause at all. But, frankly, even if this was a completely calculated and cynical plan to generate publicity, you still have to ask: if you can't dissent in the Capitol Building, where can you? Are our politicians really so weak-kneed, such slaves to the photo-op they can't bear the thought of a contrary opinion on a t-shirt? Wait, don't answer that...
Labels: Free Speech
posted by The Local Crank | 12:48 AM
6 Comments:
What if the shirt had said "Fuck the War?" I'm interested to know if the parallel to Cohen v. California had been that blatant if she'd still been thrown out. Of course, I guess they could have just had the cameras focus on her often, so as to nail her with as many FCC violations as possible...
Seems like we're right. (Not that I'm surprised). The District Court has already ruled on this once in Bynum v. US Capitol Police.
It seems that the Capitol Police violated their own administrative interpretation of the USC that demonstration activities do not include wearing a T-Shirt. See here.
And yes, most of this is from Daily Kos. I'm a commie pinko liberal. And I interviewed with JAG corps this morning. Dont tell them. Or my Mom.
By the way- only comment Nazis enable precomment moderation.
"only comment Nazis enable precomment moderation."
Sorry, but I'm trying to protect our younger and more impressionable readers from commie pinko liberals who deploy certain Anglo-Saxon verbs not normally used in polite conservation.
And I will pay good money to see you in JAG.
"You want the truth?"
"I think I'm entitled."
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
"What if the shirt had said 'F*** the War?'"
Worse yet, what if she had been carrying a purse with the Confederate battle flag on it?
Oops. I'll try to avoid the anglo-saxon words that generally pepper my vocabulary when discussing the current administration.
And if she'd had a Confederate Battle Flag purse? Well, since good `ole Strom is no longer with us- she'd have to sit with Trent Lott.
And on that note, back to writing a memo on 6th amendment right to counsel of choice.
Post a Comment
<< Home