Dismantling our Constitutional rights

author : Jane Troutbeck topic : civil liberties | Lakefair

by Jane Troutbeck

First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment? Who cares? The people who've stolen our country are quietly turning the public into a mass of voiceless peons, who are too busy slaving at low-paying jobs and watching television to notice their rights being stripped away.

A squeaky wheel

Ruth Lipow, however, did not just sit back when her first amendment rights were suppressed by Olympia police officers. When she attempted to distribute leaflets about a single payer system at the Olympian-sponsored public health care forum, she was intimidated by police officers who told her she was not allowed to hand out flyers at the Olympia Center. She testified before the Olympia City Council and got results (see page 7).

Lakefair pisses on the 1st Amendment

Although Lakefair designated a small area near the portable toilets as a "public expression area," public objection led Cathie Butler, Communications Director for the City of Olympia to write a memo assuring Gar Lipow, son of Ruth Lipow, that Lakefair has been informed that people have a right to "free speech activities conducted on City property in a safe and non-disruptive manner." Her memo continued, "I will also be informing them that City personnel (including our police officers) will not intervene to prohibit anyone from engaging in free speech on City property that is conducted in a way that does not pose a threat to individual or public health, safety and welfare and/or is not disruptive."

George Bush pisses on the whole country

It may require more time and effort to oppose the threat to our First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, and Fifth Amendment rights created by an Executive Order issued by George W. Bush on July 17, 2007. The order, entitled "Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq," will allow the President to confiscate the assets of people who resist the illegal occupation of Iraq. According to Professor Michel Chossudovsky "in substance, under this executive order, opposing the war becomes an illegal act. The Executive Order criminalizes the antiwar movement." (see http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6377 )

What's at stake now?

It is virtually certain that this executive order will be challenged legally. In the meantime, however, one can't help but wonder: Can the police seize a car driven to an antiwar demonstration? Can Homeland Security confiscate a computer if " http://www.couragetoresist.com " is in the browser history? Has the Bush regime exercised its autocratic powers to the point where to venture dissent is to risk impoverishment? Can they really do that?

Jane Troutbeck lives in a vast free speech zone commonly referred to as the United States of America.