[Vision2020] Another step toward the police state

[Ron Force]

New Patriot Act Provision Creates Tighter Barrier to Officials at Public
Events
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183147,00.html 

Tuesday, January 31, 2006
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos 

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.

Some conservatives say they too are troubled by the measure.

"It concerns me greatly," said Bob Barr, former U.S. prosecutor and
Republican representative from Georgia. "It clearly raises serious
concerns about First Amendment rights."