Let's make a bet about free speech zones and conventions

[jpgray]

I've seen a lot of images of the future free speech zone at the Dem convention. It looks terrible--metal mesh fences with razor wire on top? What happens if there are infiltrators, tear gas is used, and the people stampede? Disaster--people get trampled, pushed into hard metal fences, and get ripped up trying to climb over the razor wire. Huge stink, and all will be blamed on the Democrats. Even if this does not happen, the images are pissing a lot of people, including me, off.

Note: the Black Tea Society has successfully won a case to march past the building WITHOUT needing to bother about the free speech zone, if I recall, so really it shouldn't be necessary at all, and I hope no one uses it.

Fast forward a month or so to the Republican convention. I'll wager ten to one that coverage of the 'free speech zone' in NYC will be either nonexistent or far more favorable. If it is a fucking cage with razor wire, somehow I doubt images will be broadcast all over of how terrible it looks, and if something happens in the vein of a riot or serious injuries and chaos, I'll bet the 'liberal' protest groups and Democrats will be blamed.

I hate the media. I really do. These things should be covered, but they should have been covered ALL ALONG, from their start in Bill Clinton's day to protect women at abortion clinics to their use to shunt off protests when they are politically undesirable.

[Cat Atomic]

1. Oh, I know. When I first saw a story on this free speech zone,

I didn't realize it was for the Dem convention. I was just saying, "it's about time they stary reporting this shit!", when the reporter started explaining how Democratic leaders want to keep the protestors in the zone.

I was just blown away. These things have been in use for a long time now, and Bush has abused them badly. Now there's one at the Dem convention and SUDDENLY it's a worthy news item? Sick.

I think they should scrap those things- they disgust me. Especially the one at our own convention. But it's still awfully funny how the media is suddenly so interested in free speech zones.

[StandUpGuy]

3. Can you link the Dem leadership part of your post?

I think it's likely that these pens will contain only that anti-war, anti-globalization crowd.

I still worry about the spin.

Edit:

The reason I ask for the link is because I think it would be easy to re-spin if they object.

All they need to say at the convention on prime time TV is ....

"America, under Bush you have lost your freedom...Outside is an abomination created by this administration."

[w4rma]

9. No matter what ANY Dem says, folks will STILL not believe that it wasn't

Dems (and was Bush's Homeland Security people) who set those razor-wire internment camps up outside of the DNC convention. And when the TV cameras superimpose the DNC convention and Kerry's speech with that razor-wire internment camp, that's Bush winning the election, right there. Game set match for the GOP.

[Cat Atomic]

13. I'm sorry, I wish I could- but I only heard it on a TV report.

And the statement was more to the effect of "Dem leaders are concerned about security and so... blah blah free speech zone". That kind of thing.

[LibDemAlways]

2. Repuke pro-lifers, including

lots of wholesome-looking families with small children, along with some white-haired senior citizens walking with canes, will be bussed in and escorted into the pen - where the network whores will be all too happy to photograph and interview them next to the razor wire - all for the purpose of showing America how much the Dems hate freedom. This is a Rove set-up.

[Nay]

4. I agree, it's a Rove setup, and the Dem Convention should be

one big free speech zone. This is ridiculous.

[MuseRider]

10. I would go a little farther

our country should be one big free speech zone.

[thecrow]

5. What self-respecting protestor...

would check into the FSZ???:wtf:
That's what puzzles me.
How are the protestors being forced to even agree to be *IN* the Zone??????

[Individualist]

8. agree to be in the zone?

Have you ever tried disagreeing with a squadron of cops in riot gear?

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. The Democrats should be SCREAMING,

at the top of their lungs, about this. Free Speech my ass! Free speech ONLY in this cage with razor wire on top. That is unbelievable. The Democrats should yell...LOUD AND CLEAR....

TEAR DOWN THAT FENCE!

The chimp is the one who likes to use free speech zones. Democrats shouldn't follow his example. It's awful, just awful.

[Individualist]

11. Absolutely

Free speech zones are an abomination.

[kohodog]

7. There has to be another word. These pens have

Nothing to do with repression of free speech.

Call them repression zones, censorship areas, but we play into their spin machine by using their terminology

[G_j]

12. will the media report on the many other events planned?

List of events from the website of United For Peace and Justice, the same group organizing in NYC.
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2426

Demonstrations and Activities During the Democratic National Convention


A range of activities are being planned before and during the Democratic National Convention (July 26-29). Below is a list of some of the events in place, with links for information. Please note, this list is not comprehensive, and details do change, so please check back. This is intended as a calendar of events, this is not a list of UFPJ-endorsed activities.

VETERANS FOR PEACE: 2004 CONVENTION
Annual National Convention, July 22-25 at Emerson College in Boston
July 22: Get-Together Cruise on Boston Harbor
July 23: "Veterans Address the Nation", Faneuil Hall
July 24: Reception and Banquet, Boston Public Library
July 25: Peace Rally on Boston Common

"WE THE PEOPLE: Defeating Militarism and the Politics of Fear"
Veterans for Peace has taken a leading role in the movement to end the war and occupation of Iraq. Their annual national conference is being held in Boston right before the Democratic National Convention in order to send a strong message to the Democratic Party. Many of the activities during the Veterans for Peace Convention will be open to the public. For more information about the ongoing work of Veterans for Peace and for details about this convention, click here: http://www.veteransforpeace.org

BOSTON SOCIAL FORUM
Friday July 23rd, Saturday July 24th and Sunday July 25th at the University of Massachusetts at Boston

A coalition of Boston area, progressive community organizations, non-profits, and unions will be hosting what promises to be an exciting event—the Boston Social Forum (BSF). A forum within the World Social Forum process, the BSF has been called to help progressive activists to begin to answer some very basic questions: What kind of future do we want for Boston? For our region? For our nation? For the world? What is our vision of a better society?

Through a series of workshops, cultural events, plenary sessions, and giant convocations of the entire forum, we are encouraging progressive organizations of all kinds to showcase their best analysis of the present, and their best ideas for the future, across the breadth of human knowledge—politics, economics, science and technology, culture and faith—in the context of corporate globalization.
The goals of the event are simple: encourage various social movements to exchange information, network with one another, form new alliances, and push our movements forward a bit more towards the next stage of our development.

We invite all progressive activists, interested community members, and delegates to the Democratic National Convention, to come to the BSF and become part of the global process to build a better, more human-centered society. The forum is governed by a Planning Committee that sets policy. Organizing is carried out by Working Groups and a Secretariat (or Admin Team). Organizations that would like to become involved in the BSF may also participate as Allied Organizations.

For more information and to get involved, click here: http://www.bostonsocialforum.org

INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE, at the Boston Social Forum
Friday July 23rd, Saturday July 24th and Sunday July 25th

The American Friends Service Committee and the European Network for Peace and Human Rights are working together to organize an international peace conference at the Boston Social Forum. Leading figures from European and U.S. peace movements will be joined by their counterparts from Asia, Africa and Latin America with the goal of reinforcing our movements through sharing analysis, strategies and priorities; networking; and developing joint campaigns and solidarity.

For more information, click here: http://www.afsc.org/pes.htm or call AFSC at 617-661-6130

PEOPLE'S PARTIES
Sunday, July 25th - in neighborhoods around Boston and around the country

Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston is hosting neighborhood parties for the delegates to the Democratic Nominating Convention on the day before the DNC opens. On July 25th Mayor Menino will use this parties to "show off" the successes of his administration. A Boston-wide planning process has led to the plans for People's Parties around Boston, and near where the delegates' parties will be happening, offering an opportunity for the people of Boston to let the world know what's really going on in their neighborhoods. All the parties will have a "Fund the Dream" umbrella theme, but each party will also be unique and will put front and center the community's understanding of what the "dream" is -- what they want their communities to look like, what the important struggles are for them, etc. To read more about Fund the Dream, and to download petitions, etc., please see http://www.fundthedream.org .

The Peoples' Parties are also an opportunity to be part of a national mobilization in your own community! Plan a People's Party for Sunday, July 25th in your neighborhood or community. Make it big or small. Start meeting with other grassroots groups in your area. Get neighbors, friends, kids out to barbeque, visit, listen to music, share the arts, play games, and raise consciousness about the campaign to Fund the Dream. This is a national campaign to shift the money from the military budget to meeting human needs. It is anti-war and pro-community. It is a chance for you to *build relationships* with other groups and with other people -- so that we can big enough and strong enough and *connected* enough to meet whatever challenge lays ahead of us on the day after the election.

Let's send a message to the Democrats and to whoever is elected in November, that our movements are growing in numbers, that we are aiming to stop the war(s) at home and the war(s) abroad, and that we believe another world is possible and that we are going to fight for it!

For more information, contact [e-mail]

Information on how to organize a People's Party can be found by clicking on this text link.

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Rallies, marches, teach-ins, forums and other activities are in the planning stages. Some of the events planned include:

Monday, July 26th

Rally against Police Brutality, Prison Abuse and the Patriot Act
sponsored by the Black Tea Society
10 am to 12 noon on the Boston Common, followed by a march to the Fleet Center
for more information: http://www.blackteasociety.org

Speak Out on Civil Liberties
sponsored by the Kucinch Campaign
12 noon at St.Paul's Church on Tremont Street

Alternative Freedom Trail - tour through Boston
sponsored by the Mass. Civil Liberties Union
2 pm to 5 pm

Dump the Democrats
sponsored by the Socialist Party, USA
2 pm
Government Center
for more information: http://www.sp-usa.org/democracy /

Rally against the Occupations of Iraq and Palestine
sponsored by Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights and United for Justice with Peace
5 pm to 7 pm


Tuesday, July 27th

Calling All Delegates: People's Solutions to National and Global Crisis
10 am to 2 pm
Faneuil Hall

Really REALLY Democratic Bazaar
sponsored by Black Tea Society
12 noon to 8 pm
Boston Common
for more information: http://www.blackteasociety.org

Eyes Wide Open Exhibit opposing U.S. war in Iraq
sponsored by American Friends Service Committee
9 am to 9 pm, program with speakers and music starts at 7:30 pm
Copley Square


Wednesday, July 28th

Rally against Detainee Abuse from Guantanamo to Abu Ghraib Prison
sponsored by United for Justice with Peace
12 noon to 2 pm
Copley Square
for more information: http://justicewithpeace.org or call 617-354-2169

Demonstration to protest plans for a Bio-Terror Lab in the heart of Boston
sponsored by ACE
3 pm to 8 pm
Roxbury/South End (exact location TBA)


Thursday, July 29th

Anti-War Rally and March
sponsored by Black Tea Society
10 am to 12 pm at Copley Square followed by march to Fleet Center, return to Boston Common for rally
for more information contact: http://www.blackteasociety.org

Rally for Peace and Justice
sponsored by United for Peace and Justice, in cooperation with AFSC, United Progressive Alliance and Great Boston United for Justice with Peace Coalition
5 pm to 11 pm
demonstration zone near Fleet Center


Friday, July 30th

Kick Off of DNC2RNC March
sponsored by the Next Step Collective
10 am gather, location TBA


Other activities during the week are being planned by the Black T(ea) Society, by 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, and others. Please check this site regularly for more information and updates.

www.unitedforpeace.org