[Vision2020] Taking Liberties: The First Amendment and the right to protest

[Art Deco]

<http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/03/08/taking-liberties-first-amendment-and-right-to-protest/print#>
 Taking Liberties: The First Amendment and the right to protest

By Douglas Kennedy

Published March 08, 2012 | FoxNews.com

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Harold Hodge believes in the power of protest.

“It’s important,” he said as he walked on First Street in front of the
steps of the U.S. Supreme
Court<http://www.foxnews.com/topics/politics/supreme-court.htm#r_src=ramp>.
 "I believe people should have the right to protest and picket against the
government.”

But, he says, it’s a right that is disappearing.

“They,” he said, as he pointed up at the white columns, “are taking it away
from us.”

In January 2011, Hodge was standing on the public plaza above the steps of
the court wearing a sign around his neck. It read “The U.S. Gov. allows
police to illegally murder and brutalize African-Americans and Hispanic
people."

Video of him shows he was still and quiet and more than 100 feet from the
Court entrance. Nonetheless, officers arrested him, charging him with
violating a so-called “no speech zone.”

“These things are popping up all over the country,” said John Whitehead of
the Rutherford Institute, which is defending Hodge in court, “where people
can only speak when they are pushed away to the side.”

“I’m astounded,” he said. “Especially when you see the footage of Harold
Hodge standing silently with no one else around. He wasn’t blocking
anybody’s egress. He wasn’t talking to anybody. If you can’t do this in
front of the Supreme Court, there’s no such thing as free speech.”

Whitehead says officials have been increasingly implementing “no speech
zones” around government buildings and important government events, like
political conventions.

“This is a dangerous trend that's been going on for a number of years,” he
said. “Putting people so far away from government officials that government
officials can't hear the speech. Well that means the First Amendment means
nothing, They are destroying the First Amendment.”

“Not so,” said Tom Ruskin, a law enforcement advocate who calls no-speech
zones “necessary.”

“We are not limiting free speech in front of the Supreme Court or anywhere
else. We are simply moving the demonstrators back so they don’t interfere
with securing the area.”

He says the zones are nothing new.

“Law enforcement has consistently moved people to better areas for them to
demonstrate.”

Ruskin points out that protesters should not have the right to disrupt
government business.

“People need to enter the buildings and leave the building.”

“[Police] are just moving the protesters back for everyone’s safety.”

It’s not a good argument,” said Rutherford. “The people you are petitioning
have to be in some sort of range. In other words, somebody has to be able
to read your sign. If they put you so far away that the government
officials can’t hear you, free speech has no effect.”

Hodge says he just wants some acknowledgement.

“I want someone to listen to me,” he said. “I want someone to see me.”

Hodge faces up to 60 days in jail and a $500 dollar fine.
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