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I thought America was a free speech zone

Apparently, not:

The Supreme Court today rejected an appeal from an anti-war protester who was convicted of violating the boundaries of a “restricted area” established during President Bush’s visit to South Carolina in 2002.

Brett Bursey had urged the justices to hear the appeal of a $500 fine he was assessed for entering a restricted area at near airport hangar in West Columbia on Oct. 24, 2002. In July 2005, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Bursey’s conviction in U.S. v. Bursey.
….
A Secret Service agent told Bursey he could protest in a designated demonstration area a half-mile away. When he refused to leave the restricted area, he was arrested.

3 Responses to “I thought America was a free speech zone”

  1. Standard Mischief Says:

    wow, I’m gonna have to do some more digging and fact checking, but this source:

    http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/06/24/1459249

    quotes thusly:

    …Back in October he was originally charged by the state with trespassing at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. But the state dropped the trespassing charges perhaps because they knew the courts would rule in Bursey’s favor.

    In fact they did 33 years ago when he was also arrested at the same airport for protesting Richard Nixon. He was charged with trespassing. Bursey challeneged his arrest and the state Supreme Court ruled in his favor….”

    So if he did the exact same damn thing 33 years ago, and walked, that pretty much makes him the perfect test case.

    Reading the linked news story, when those supremes gathered round to decide what goes on the docket, there wasn’t four of ’em that thought this was a worthy case to hear. The names are not recorded in this voice vote. This is the so called “rule of four”.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_four

    I have to say that this disturbs me as much as door-to-door gun seizures in Maryland and New Orleans, Kelo, Raich, or the tobacco ninjas stomping house pets to death..

  2. Standard Mischief Says:

    http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16319

    says that they were passing people who had tickets into the restricted zone. I think the test here ought to be if peaceful protesters can get the tickets just as easy as the supporters. If the ticket are handed out to anyone who gives cash to the president’s party, and not just to people who pass a background check, then sending this protester to a “free speech zone” a 1/2 mile away is putting an unfair burden on free speech.

  3. robert Says:

    Wouldn’t Ben Franklin be proud!

Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.

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