Following up my earlier post about the showdown coming to a head in Miami, repeated harrassment of organizers is being reported in the area, as well as more restrictive "temporary laws" being passed. My earlier post was about the suspension of the right to a speedy trial for the term of the trade meetings. The following article reports a new law concerning what people may carry with them to a protest.
It also describes the method by which protests are squelched, citing Seattle, D.C., Los Angeles and Philadelphia as recent examples.
According to lawyers for the activists, if police and protesters clash, it likely will play out as follows:
Police will sweep up hundreds of demonstrators on minor charges and jail them. By the time they're released, the summit will be over. The charges won't hold up in court, and although civil rights and free speech may be compromised, the public safety crisis will have passed.
In the past, Simon said, "The constitution was suspended."
It's the lesson learned from the "Battle in Seattle" -- the unexpected riots that disrupted the World Trade Organization meetings in 1999 and left at least 3 million in damage in downtown Seattle. It happened again three years ago, during the political conventions in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. article
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Monday, November 17, 2003
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