October 7, 2002

Successful Bush Protests

A BuzzFlash Reader Commentary
by Robyn Su

Dear BuzzFlash:

Anyway, here's another head's up...this one more timely. CLG will be posting my firsthand report on Boston's Bush protest.

Its significance lies in the first equal application of First Amendment limits that I've heard of since they've implemented these "zones" for protesting. Bush/Romney supporters were also confined to the protest pit. Not surprisingly, when they found this out, the Mitt Romney supporters packed their signs back on their bus and fled. However, a lone Bush supporter braved our crowd and stood with us!

I'm suggesting you pass on to your readers our formula, for when Bush comes to their city.

1. Inform the police ahead of time of your planned protest and say you want to work with them for a peaceful event. Ask what area they've designated for protesters. (This works two ways. Sometimes you can find out the Bush ETA from the police if you can't get it another way!)

2. Find out who's in charge, speak to that person, and memorize the name, and that of his/her superior officer.

3. Examine the area ahead of time, to see how far/close you are being kept from the event.

4. Go early on the day of the protest and establish contact with those in charge. Let them know you will cooperate, but will not tolerate unequal application of these rules. If there are Bush supporters roaming at large, let them know you will stand by them. If some signs are to be confined to one area, they all should be.

5. Indicate your willingness to be arrested. If you see signs outside the Zone head toward them unless the police inform them that all signs are designated to the Zone.

In Pittsburgh, this resulted in arrests. In Boston, this resulted in pro-Bush/pro-Mitt supporters being informed that all signs were designated to one area. I can't say whether the difference was due to advance notice or inherent differences in the police forces. We've so far had lots of tolerance and support from Boston area police in these matters.

But, in the end, it doesn't matter. The entire nation should be a First Amendment Zone. We should have the right to face and confront our public servants. The bare minimum we should tolerate is equal treatment, even if that means getting arrested to make the point.

~~robyn su
First Amendment Zone

* * *