So this is America? | Hacker News Reader

So this is America?

commondreams.org

39 pointsoewolf10 comments

Open articleView on HN

Much better link with more details:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-kall/former-cia-agent-ray-...

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=N-Vy8fFnz18#t=0m20s

If I am understanding this correctly, all this guy did was stay standing with his back to the speaker.

That's some insane abuse if true.

What are the specific laws relating to non-violent protest at this kind of event?

Assuming the article is correct (and the video seems to back that up), I wouldn't even consider this protesting. Yelling over Clinton's speech, holding up signs, harassing people going to the speech, throwing shoes -- these are all protests. Quietly standing with your back to the speaker? Not a chance.

I would call it a protest, a silent one, and with some degree of effect as well especially if cameras ever showed the audience. However, such prompt removal for such a passive/peaceful gesture is troubling.

You are willing to begin regulating what is and is not protest speech?

I suppose when Rosa Parks quietly sat at the front of the bus she wasn't protesting either.

There's only one law, and it is pretty specific:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

They could have asked him to leave. Then demanded he leave. Then arrested him if he refused to leave. That would have been legal.

Unfortunately, the amendment didn't specify where you can assemble and petition. Government in recent years has been making sure that's a "free speech zone" that's quite a distance away.

They removed him because they don't allow you to petition the government, you know, within earshot.

While I'm appalled at the incident and upset, I don't think this belongs in HN...

Was he standing in the aisle? In his seat? Neither may justify being roughed up like that, but this appears to be a statement from his lawyers, and a video that only shows him being removed. Can we even be confident this is the whole truth?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com