Free Speech Zones in America

United States
July 7, 2007 12:23am CST
Has anyone heard of this? The president has been designating areas for "free speech." Doesn't that pretty much defeat the purpose of free speech? I thought we had rights? I think Bush has gone off his rocker. And I should have the right to say that anywhere I want.
4 responses
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
7 Jul 07
Yeah, I've been aware of the free speech zones for awhile. I guess the government finally found the loophole to that whole 'free speech' thing. Oh sure, they're allowed to say whatever they want..but not anywhere near the actual event, heaven forbid the camera crew catch someone actually disagreeing! I mean come on! Since when has the secret service not been able to protect the president from a few protesters? Not since I, or my mother's been alive for sure. I also heard that reporters trying to talk to people in th pens have also been arrested. And I've NEVER seen a reporter with a story with one of the people in one of those free speech zones, never have I seen an image on my tv..to actually see one. I'll have to surf youtube I guess..because I want to see them. I mean..putting protesters inside a designated area, that's fenced in, with guards and police officers surrounding them..*shakes my head* Here's the links ABOUT free speech zones for those asking for material to read, and those who don't believe they exist either: http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/08/04/hilden.freespeech/index.html http://baltimorechronicle.com/052704FreeSpeechZones.shtml http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/speech/pubcollege/topic.aspx?topic=free-speech_zones http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_speech_zone
• United States
7 Jul 07
^_^ sure, hun. It's wonderful finding someone else talking about this too, heh. It's even more distressing to me, that fewer people know about it, and that even though there's a decent number who do know..less of them talk about it. Frustrating lol.
• United States
7 Jul 07
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Its so refreshing to know that some one else is concerned about the way things are going!
• United States
9 Jul 07
Do you/have you listened to Alex Jones? He host a local radio show here, but you can listen to him on infowars.com he gets a little passionate sometimes so if you'd rather just read the stuff he talks about you can go to prisonplanet.com Its crazy though, people will call his show and he'll be talking about something and have the facts to back it up and people will just tell him he's wrong or that they don't believe him. Sometimes when people disagree with me I don't even say anything, its pointless to argue with the people who refuse to question anything the TV tells them.
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
9 Jul 07
You are really getting on my nerves now. I love that you believe that you have the right to say whatever you what whenever you what to. Come on, yes you have the right to protest but not wherever you want. Do you believe I have the right to protest in your front yard. You sure would not be able to protest in my front yard, I will let you figrue out why. You can protest inside the White house. You never have and you will never be able to. Look the First Amendment says government cannot infringe on religion, but can Mormons cannot have more than one wife. Was not polygamy one of their tenants of their faith. Anyway the First say the right to peacefully assembly. Says nothing about where they can assemble.
• United States
9 Jul 07
P.s. yes, it says nothing about the government regulating where you can assemble to express your right to free speech. But as a wise man once said, you have the right to free speech even out in the forest or at the bottom of the ocean in a submarine, but with no one around to hear it..your speech might as well not exist or matter. These free speech zones, are however te government's loophole. And not really one that should exist or be exploited..
• United States
9 Jul 07
Its not free speech wherever you want it and it never has been. Its free speech on PUBLIC property. Judges decided that. Thats why you can protest outside the gates of the Whitehouse but not inside. I DO have the right to say whatever I want whenever I want BECAUSE I am an American Citizen. Mormons can get married as many times as they want, the law is that they just can't legally claim more than one wife on things like taxes, and insurance, which makes sense. We have our constitutional rights. Please research some of this for yourself.
@bigmacnc (142)
• United States
9 Jul 07
The Supreme Court has ruled that money is free speech.
• United States
7 Jul 07
WHAT?? Where in the world did you hear this and can you get back up so we can read it. I don't think that is even close to being legal. This is a statement that makes me think you might actually be pulling a practical joke or something. I can't believe even Bush would try to pull this off. Get me some proof and we will discuss this.
• United States
7 Jul 07
I know, I know, I thought this was crazy too. Our forefathers are probably spinning in their graves right now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_speech_zone http://www.amconmag.com/12_15_03/feature.html Just search "Free Speech Zone" I wish I was just pulling your leg.
• United States
7 Jul 07
In addition to the wickapedia article you linked to I did a search on free speech. The ACLU is suing the Secret Service and Philly PD on behalf of four national advocacy groups that are not being allowed to protest at rally's where the president speaks or in front of camaras when his motorcade even drives by. The free speech zone is an area that protesters are corraled into away from the media and Bush's view. I guess the word has not gotten out on CNN or the rest of the news stations or papers because it would violate the free speech zone. I had heard that this was done at the last election caucuses, supposedly for security at that time. The ACLU brings up a very good point when they say this isn't for security reasons now because all someone has to do is bring a pro government sign and they are allowed to line the streets and be closer to Bush. This is an atrocity that needs to be made known to the American ppl somehow. What say we start posting the info on every site possible? Here is the ACLU link http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/protest/11423prs20030923.html