free speach in USA - doesn't exist

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free speach in USA – doesn’t exist

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April 22, 2006 at 9:56 am

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globalloon

@globalloon

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In the UK we’ve had the terrorism act used to remove an elderly hecker from the Neo Labour conference… and this in the USA

when did free speech become terrorism / criminal?

Hu heckler on harassment charge

A woman has appeared in court in Washington after heckling visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao at the White House.

Wang Wenyi, 47, was charged with harassing, intimidating and threatening a foreign official.

Ms Wang, who had a press pass for the event, had shouted at Mr Hu not to oppress the outlawed Chinese spiritual movement, the Falun Gong.

An embarrassed President George W Bush apologised to Mr Hu for the outburst.

If convicted, Ms Wang could face six months in jail and a fine of $5,000 (£2,800).

First Amendment

Ms Wang, a doctor, had about 40 supporters at her hearing on Friday.

She was released on condition she remained in New York City, did not approach the White House and came only to Washington for legal reasons.

Her lawyer argued she was entitled to free speech under the First Amendment.

Prosecutors said the amendment did not allow her to break the law.

The judge did not rule on the free speech issue.

Ms Wang had received a press pass for the White House event on behalf of the English-language Epoch Times, which has strongly supported Falun Gong in the past.

She shouted in Chinese: “Stop oppressing the Falun Gong” and “Your time is running out”.

She also shouted in English: “President Bush, stop him from killing.”

She was ushered away after a few minutes by Secret Service agents.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4931914.stm
April 22, 2006 at 10:15 am

#858982
6

General Lighting

@general-lighting

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globalloon wrote:

In the UK we’ve had the terrorism act used to remove an elderly hecker from the Neo Labour conference… and this in the USA

when did free speech become terrorism / criminal?

the paradox of many societies is that although they appear less regulated certain forms of speech can always be deemed to be criminal, unless those with power are prepared to indulge it.

the fundamental law (perhaps the only law) of captalism is to respect private property rights to resources.

this overrides any other laws in a market-led society, even the rights to life/freedom (as you no doubt have realised).

Part of these rights are that the owner can dictate what you can and can’t do with these resources if you are using them as a guest of the owner

so if the White House say she is not allowed to heckle people within their grounds they can have her nicked. Ditto the heckler at the Labour party conferences. its like if you have a teenagers party at a house and it gets out of hand, and the panicked kids dial 999 and have gatecrashers removed (or even someone invited who was “behaving inappropriately”).

there are no human rights to be entitled to attend any of these places, they are essentially private events where you need an invite or a press pass to get in.

she’d probably be able to get away with it in both the UK and the USA by shouting at the man on the public streets; but that is why these foreign guests are taken on prepared routes well away from any potential protestors..

the reality of the world is that the free market often stifles free speech as much as any totalitarian régime once did.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4931914.stm[/quote]
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