DISSENT STIFLED DURING BUSH VISIT
Anti-War Protesters Pushed Out of Sight by Secret Service
St. Louis, January 22, 2003: For the second time in as many months,? anti-war protesters in St. Louis were arrested when they showed up to?greet President George W. Bush with signs critical of the President.? During the President's visit to St. Louis today, one protester was?arrested when he refused to be herded into an area designated for?protest activity. In November, two activists were arrested when they ?also refused to be moved into a "designated protest zone." In both ?instances, the zones were well away from the path of the President's? motorcade, and in both instances demonstrators voicing support for ?the President were allowed to remain on the motorcade route.
It is now common practice at political events attended by members?of Bush Administration for police and secret service agents to create?special protest areas, typically located out of viewing distance of?the actual event. The policy only applies to protesters with?dissenting views.
"There is nothing more sacred in our country than the ability to?voice one's opinion," said ACLU of Eastern Missouri Executive ?Director Matt LeMieux. "Herding dissenters into far away zones, while?supporters are allowed to get within earshot of the President, serves ?absolutely no purpose other than to suppress certain viewpoints."
Protesters in St. Louis are not alone. Around the country,? dissenters have been arrested for being unwilling to surrender their?First Amendment rights during Presidential visits. Recently, a? newspaper characterized the protest zones used against protesters in ?Pittsburgh with a headline reading "Dissent Corral Not OK." In? Phoenix police arrested the director of the ACLU of Arizona , who was?acting as a legal observer, for taking pictures of the protest during?a Presidential visit. ACLU offices across the country are currently ?working to get charges dropped against people arrested for nothing?more than wanting to voice their opinion during a visit by the ?President.
"Unfortunately, this is not all that new," added LeMieux. "These ?zones were used during both the Democratic and Republican? conventions, and have been used with regularity since the first day? President Bush took office. Free speech rights are simply meaningless ?if they can only be exercised in an area far away from the intended? audience."
Which is exactly why Human Rights Action Service Director Bill? Ramsey and activist Angela Gordon were arrested while protesting ?President Bush's policies on Iraq at the St. Charles Family Arena on?November 4, 2002. After being moved farther and farther away, they ?finally objected when told they would have to move approximately 1/4? mile away to a gravel parking lot that serves the Katy Trail - a?space that according to the protesters, they would not have been seen?by the President or his entourage. They objected because moving to?the "protest zone" would have rendered their speech meaningless. ACLU ?of Eastern Missouri General Counsel Steve Ryals is representing ?Ramsey and Gordon as cooperating attorney for the ACLU-EM.
"While a security buffer may be appropriate, one that regulates?based on viewpoint is indefensible on security and First Amendment? grounds," concluded ACLU of Eastern Missouri Legal Director Denise ?Lieberman.