Boston "Free Speech" Zone More Like Concentration Camp

[JSJ]

"That’s not all. If you go inside, you won't be left safely alone with your fellow protesters. Right above you will be a suspended catwalk of wooden rafters traveling down the middle of the protest area. This strip is not only covered with reams of barbed wire, but officers (or national guardsmen) will be strolling above you just feet from your head. After walking in, it took us about 2 seconds to agree; “there is no fucking way we are stepping into this trap”.

And if you think that the civility of individual officers will make up for it, think again. As we were casually walking through the pen, our jaws open in dis-belief, a group of officers quickly surrounded us. Twenty-four of them. The first officer (Officer ‘Gately’) approached us swiftly, and declared, “Do you know that the willful destruction of public property in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a felony that carries 5 year in jail!” We were taken aback by this introduction. Other people in suit and ties were walking by, using the zone as a pedestrian shortcut. a bunch of peaceniks were walking through in our shorts and backpacks and we were immediately suspect of committing a criminal act. I guess this explains the meaning of the rule about those wearing ‘inappropriate clothing’ being searched. The overtly intimidating tone of the interaction didn’t cease, so we soon left".

Surprised we're not hearing more about this temporary 'camp x-ray' from our 'on scene' DUers. Perhaps there's too much 'party' and not enough Party on their agendas. In either event, Boston's free speech zone should be the very last place a dedicated protestor would want to be. -SJ

[flordehinojos]

1. I wonder who bears more responsibility for the Boston Concentration Camp?

Would it be the 19 hijackers and their crashing of the four planes into the WTC, the Pentagon and the Pa. field, OR GWB AND HIS INCREDIBLE STATE OF PARANOIA WITH WHICH HE HAS INFECTED OUR WHOLE NATION?

And, IF YOU THINK BOSTON'S FREE SPEECH ZONE IS BAD ENOUGH--WHAT WILL NEW YORK'S NOT SO FREE TO SPEAK OR DISSENT ZONE WILL BE LIKE...after all our bastardly Resident has to be protected from the specter of his paranoia.
:-(

[thebigidea]

2. Well, its certainly the last place I'd want to be.

What with being counterproductive, helpful to FOX News, and somehow not nearly as fulfilling as protestin' the RNC.

I noticed all the cable networks gave plenty of coverage to the sparse protests and seemed downright discouraged at the low turnout...

[ronatchig]

3. An afront to the right of

free speech and of assembly. This gestapo tactic must be stopped.
Without the right to disagree with ones own political party or with a politican a mortal wound is inflicted on the body of our nation.
For shame to us all.

[tooie]

4. after seeing boston's free speech zone,

I can't imagine what NY will look like. It will be had to make it any worse and present any type of argument. It's a shame they did not use this as a chance to setup the NY protesters with some reasonable accomodations - are they really listening in Boston ?