Demonstrators can be charged with felony for "breaching" security

[kentuck]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183147,00.html

<snip>
WASHINGTON — A new provision tucked into the Patriot Act bill now before Congress would allow authorities to haul demonstrators at any "special event of national significance" away to jail on felony charges if they are caught breaching a security perimeter.

Sen. Arlen Specter , R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sponsored the measure, which would extend the authority of the Secret Service to allow agents to arrest people who willingly or knowingly enter a restricted area at an event, even if the president or other official normally protected by the Secret Service isn't in attendance at the time.

The measure has civil libertarians protesting what they say is yet another power grab for the executive branch and one more loss for free speech.

"It's definitely problematic and chilling," said Lisa Graves, senior counsel for legislative strategy at the American Civil Liberties Union , which has written letters to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, pointing out that the provision wasn't subject to hearings or open debate.

[jpak]

1. Police State

n/t

[Sydnie]

2. the free speech zone will now be in another state! n/t

[debbierlus]

3. That ain't nothing - wait until they get their hands on the internet

[Marr]

5. And that's coming, too. Now that the Supreme Court

has become another rubber stamp for the Executive, like Congress.

[Marr]

4. I assume "breaching a security perimeter" means protesting outside the

tiny Free Speech Zone? More of a "breaking out" thing than a "breaking in" thing?

This place is so over, I swear. We just slide right into fascism and most people don't seem to give a shit, so long as they can have their i-pod and this week's episode of American Idol.

[kentuck]

6. Code Pink will all be in prison...

because they are always "breaching" security...