“Free Speech Zones” to Prevent Free Speech at 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston

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Protesters ringed off in “free speech zone” holding pens blocks from the event they are protesting sounds more like something that would happen in Moscow’s Red Square than in Boston’s Fleet Center. But when the Democratic convention hits Boston in the fall, protesters will “not be able to express their concerns with whatever will be happening, because no one will have access to delegates. No one will be heard,” Urszula Masny-Latos, executive director of the National Lawyers Guild’s Massachusetts chapter, told the Boston Globe.
Back in December 2003, an American Conservative Magazine article by James Bovard noted that when Bush travels around the US the secret service visits ahead of time and orders local police to set up “free speech zones” where people opposed to Bush policies (and sometimes sign-carrying supporters) are quarantined. These zones routinely succeed in keeping protesters out of presidential sight and outside the view of media covering the event.
“Is the administration seeking to stifle domestic criticism?,” the author asked. “Absolutely. Is it carrying out a war on dissent? Probably not

Comments

1. Tig Tillinghast says:

   February 23, 2004 at 4:44 pm

   I can sort of see POTUS setting up the zones as a security measure. I mean, line-of-sight is line-of-sight.
   But for the delegates, aren’t they expendable? I mean jeeze, they’re just some state senator’s brother-in-law who’s owed a favor.
   Seriously, if you’ve ever driven around the Fleet Center, you know that there isn’t a place that you can both express protest and not stand in the middle of some traffic snarl at the same time.
   For my part, as soon as a protest is permitted, located, advertised and choreographed, it’s not really much of a protest anymore. It’s more of an expected PR element – part of the “necessary motions” category.
   If the protesters really want to be seen from the Fleet Center, they should create a flotilla off Charlestown. That way, the press can photograph them without spending 5 hours in stopped traffic.
   It’ll be interesting to see the various protesters of different sorts react differently to what could be a rather contentious convention. You might see strange happenings, like the nomination going into many votes, with Dean and others controlling a plurality of delegates, fighting for veep. Haven’t heard many talk of this yet. Might get fratricidal, and the various folks manning barricades might divvy up into reds and whites.
   I can just see Menino’s FS Zone choice: Cambridge.

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2. Joan says:

   February 23, 2004 at 4:44 pm

   And some forget that when liberty is taken away from a single person, we all suffer the deprivation because we all are one. Separation is only an illusion. How sad that the infighting begins for a supposedly finite supply when, in fact, there is enough for everyone, including the right to free speech.

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