Federal judge rules against RNC protesters

[Another Bill C.]

Source: KARE11 Television

A federal judge in Minnesota has refused to grant a group's request to change the time and route for its protest during the upcoming Republican National Convention.

Judge Joan Ericksen says government officials have security reasons to justify the restrictions on the permit for the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War.

The group plans to march on the first day of the convention September 1st.

Read more: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=518908&catid=14

[tularetom]

1. Why did they bother to even ask?

You have to believe any judge was gonna deny this request.

They should just fucking go ahead and do it anyway. Part of what makes a protest a protest is that it is "illegal". Face it if you ask the government is it OK if I protest you, they'll never agree to it.

[Indenturedebtor]

2. No kidding. Why ask? n/t

[aspergris]

3. You are kidding me right?

I have seen (and participated) in protests in Seattle that WERE permitted and we got a police escort etc.

This is exceptionally common.

Protests are not necessarily illegal. That's false

What makes CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION = CONSCIENTIOUS objection is that it is designed to be illegal

CO's engage in civil DISobedience by purposefully engaging in illegal acts to protest the very law.

For example, standing in front of city hall and lighting a joint to protest the war on drugs.

That's illegal and is a protest.

Otoh, getting a permit to march down the streets to protest the WODrugs is still a protest even if done LEGALLY

iow, illegal protest is a subset of protest.

Not all protests are illegal

MOST aren't

[daggahead]

4. Hey, a little Freeway Blogging around the convention center ...

... may go a long way.

[tidy_bowl]

5. *SIGH* In the good ole days...

...of the 60's people never asked nor complained when they got arrested, that is what 'civil disobedience' means. They got arrested and expected to be arrested and did their time and/or fine. Nowadays people seem affronted because they are arrested like, 'how dare you', don't you know I am morally right? Well, yeah right maybe, but still take your lumps responsibly. No one is above the law. No one. And no cause ever justifies the means, unless you're willing to take the consequences.

[RedLetterRev]

7. In the good old days

we had learned civics in school and had a notion of what the law was, what the Constitution contained and what it meant. When the pugs successfully stripped education out of schools, the upshot is that a lot of folks don't know what the law is, they don't know what's in the Constitution, so when rights get stripped away, they don't miss what they don't know they ever had. That's why I believe there's a helluva lot more indignation expressed over any breath of air passed across the Second Amendment than the complete gutting of the First and Fourth. The stunning contrast and the implications give me nightmares. Yet that's how it is in America the Benighted.

You're right. Moral indignation doesn't equate to legally correct, and there are right ways and wrong ways to go about civil disobedience.

[John Kerry VonErich]

8. It feels like, to me, anyways...

the days of civil disobidience is dying and things are gonna get a whole lot worse.

[AllHereTruth]

10. Trust me, they haven't.

On September 1st you will see.

[bean fidhleir]

11. "unless you're willing to take the consequences."

Me, I've always thought that Patton had a good idea. I don't remember the context or exact quote, but it was something to the effect that he didn't want or need soldiers who were willing to die for their country, he wanted and needed soldiers willing to make the other poor bastards die for *their* country.

Similarly, I suspect that part of the reason we're deeper in the shite every year is that we're unwilling to be other than polite and genteel. I make a partial exception for the anarchokids. Generally we're very obedient, and can be ignored. If someone always obeys, what danger are they? If they're annoying, tell them to stop.

[jwirr]

12. Right, if you read Walden on Civil Disobedience he tells us that we

must be willing to pay the consequences.

[High Plains]

6. This is a bullshit ruling that effectively eviscerates First Amendment rights.

Will DU cheer similar rules imposed on protestors in Denver?

[tyon517izhere]

9. WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT?

You can protest just not where anyone can hear you.....
Such a travesty ! Google yes to democracy.com a new founded group contending with the masses! Join and spread the word. Peace / love