July 28, 2004


This sucks

I thought that we, as Democrats would not have to resort to the tactics of the 1600 Crew to keep the voices we disagree with out of sight, out of mind. I would not favor speakers who are inciting riots on the convention floor, but the whole "Free Speech Zone", used by either party is just plain wrong.

Bob Kunst is working up a head of steam. "Do you think this is a real election?" he thunders into the microphone from the stage of the Democratic Convention's protest pen. "This is a phony thing. We're being sold a bill of goods!"

...In fact, let's do a quick count: Not including a couple of reporters and a dozen cops and National Guardsmen working security, there's exactly . . . no one listening. ...

This is not entirely Kunst's fault. The officially designated "Free Speech" zone and all-purpose protest area for this celebration of the Democratic way isn't exactly front and center. It's wedged between a parking lot for buses and a bunch of trailers, and set beneath the blue-green steel supports of a condemned stretch of the T, Boston's mass-transit line. The area's perimeter is marked by a sawtooth pattern of Jersey barriers, and it's caged top to bottom with cyclone fencing and barbed wire. A black plastic tarp keeps officially credentialed types in the FleetCenter compound from seeing inside the pen.

Wrong is wrong, and it matters not who does it. Mr. Kunst may have a horrid message, but it should be heard by more than chirping birds and bored National Guardsmen providing security.

I doub that any delegate would be harmed by the likes of Mr. Kunst, but our values sure take a beating over his treatment. I guess once again we can thank Preznit Brainless Twit for mainstreaming an abhorrent practice to the detriment of us all.
posted by Jo Fish on 07.28.04 at 12:16 AM





Comments:

Facism is facism and the violations of free public speech by our citizens is facism.

 posted by: Balzar on 07.28.04 at 10:36 AM [permalink]

If anything leave them free to roam and let people discourse them.

But this was made to visually deter strongarm fundies. I have the feeling Rove will save that tactic for the last month if things go this course...

The rights of the many changed by the few. If he has no bullshorn and doesn't scream directly at people in thier personal space, let him roam...

 posted by: Mr.Murder on 07.28.04 at 11:08 AM [permalink]

As for nader. Thast he is taking repub signatures lacks merit. But discouraging his run is also bad on the Dems part.

Special interest money runs thick both aisle sides...

Nader can make some things into issues as well. Perot did the same. Not having a legit third party would have perhaps denied us Clinton.

Not saying he'd lose completely after Bush Sr pardoned a son for felony embezzlement and laundering... but it could have been perhaps close enough to steal it like we saw in FLA...

 posted by: Mr.Murder on 07.28.04 at 11:39 AM [permalink]

I imagine the Nat'l Guardsmen on duty are just glad that they are not in Iraq.

 posted by: merl on 07.28.04 at 05:06 PM [permalink]

In Boston the chief use of the "free speech area" would appear to be as a tourist attraction for delegates and an open mike for drunks.

The Boston Police don't appear to be doing any kind of enforcement and generally follow protestors around rather than confronting them.

A number of delegates have blogged about it.

A pro-Palestinian group used it as a stage setting against Israel, but several people have reported "interacting" with protestors on the street.

Things may change when Kerry arrives, but it doesn't sound like the "uniforms" are convinced of the need for all of this "security".

 posted by: Bryan on 07.28.04 at 06:20 PM [permalink]

Well! It's nice to see someone at the Washington Post coming out against so-called "free speech zones."

It seems to me that I've heard of these things before, somewhere.

Bush wouldn't have any truck with them though.

 posted by: Phil on 07.29.04 at 03:45 PM [permalink]


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