In the post 9/11 era it has become harder and harder to exercise our constitutional rights. For example police often crack down on peaceful demonstrations that are protected by the First Amendment - freedom of speech. This video shows how freeway bloggers in Davis, California were able to turn a bad situation with the CHP into a good one. It is a model that political activists can use in any city or state.

Briefly here is the history:

In October 2009, our 2nd ever freeway blogging event in Davis, we ran into the harassment and intimidation of the CHP. Although we were not breaking the law

Media Roots Radio - OWS: Police State Repression, Unification; Media Censorship, Citizen Journalism by Media Roots

MEDIA ROOTS – Abby & Robbie Martin cover Occupy Wall Street: the police state repression against the First Amendment, the Democratic Party's attempt to co-opt the movement, the Obama administration's hypocrisy to praise revolution abroad and censor it at home, the fact that the Tea Party and OWS are fighting two heads of the same beast, the "Black Bloc" provocateurs and their attempt to discredit peaceful movements; media censorship and the fact that news anchors are repeaters, not reporters; the two-tiered justice system catered toward the elite; citizen journalism and its role in allowing participation and unification in the global revolution.

Freeway blogging in Davis returns.

If you know our history you know that we had to work in cooperation with CHP (California Highway Patrol) to be able to do our peaceful demonstrations for 9/11 Truth in peace. In October 2009 CHP shut down our demonstration with bullying tactics and no regard for us or the law. We met with the CHP captain in February 2010 to work out a deal whereby we could do what we wanted and they could be reassured that we were not breaking the law or doing anything dangerous. We first put that plan into place in April 2010. This is the 6th time we've gone freeway blogging with the CHP's cooperation. It has worked every time. We want to let you know that if you want to do a peaceful demonstration it is possible to have the cooperation of the police. It is very desirable too.

For more information see our website

http://freewayblogging.com/

info@freewayblogging.com

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Journalism, Ethics, and the KPFA Board Election
By Don Goldmacher
Tuesday September 28, 2010
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2010-09-28/article/36358?headline=Journalism-Ethics-and-the-KPFA-Board-Election-

The Internet remains crucial for spreading 9-11 awareness. So I am sending along this appeal from SavetheInternet.com

Dear Friend,

A few years ago, complications from chemotherapy left me visually handicapped. I now depend on the Internet for access to the world outside of Minneapolis, where I live. I just wrote the FCC that without Net Neutrality, phone and cable companies could determine my fate online.

I wrote the FCC because it's weighing a decision that could hand over control of the Internet to big companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon.

Please write the FCC, too. It needs to hear from you — in your own words — why these corporate gatekeepers can't take over our Internet.

Here's what I wrote:

"My unfettered access to the Internet is my access to the world; I need it for business, communication, shopping and entertainment... Without vital Net Neutrality protections, companies like Verizon and Comcast have a commercial incentive to muzzle my voice online. These companies should not have the power to determine my fate on the Internet."

Tell the FCC your own story about Net Neutrality. Go here now to submit it — the comment period ends Thursday.

From: http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/07/13/2056218/Chile-First-To-Approve-Net-Neutrality-Law

Chile has become the first country in the world to approve, by 100 votes in favor and one abstention, a law guaranteeing net neutrality

(Google translation; Spanish original)

The law states [/. submitter's translation]: 'No [ISP] can block, interfere with, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user of using, send, receive or offer any content, application, or legitimate service through the Internet, as well as any activity or legitimate use conducted through the Internet.'

NY TIMES
Editorial:  The K.S.M. Files
Published: April 14, 2010
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/opinion/15thu1.html?th&emc=th

McCain/Lieberman Submit Legislation to Legalize POLICE STATE in America.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/09/taking_liberties/entry5595506.shtml
November 10, 2009 12:01 AM
Justice Dept. Asked For News Site's Visitor Lists
Posted by Declan McCullagh

(AP / CBS)
In a case that raises questions about online journalism and privacy rights, the U.S. Department of Justice sent a formal request to an independent news site ordering it to provide details of all reader visits on a certain day.

The grand jury subpoena also required the Philadelphia-based Indymedia.us Web site "not to disclose the existence of this request" unless authorized by the Justice Department, a gag order that presents an unusual quandary for any news organization.

Kristina Clair, a 34-year old Linux administrator living in Philadelphia who provides free server space for Indymedia.us, said she was shocked to receive the Justice Department's subpoena. (The Independent Media Center is a left-of-center amalgamation of journalists and advocates that – according to their principles of unity and mission statement – work toward "promoting social and economic justice" and "social change.")

Please sign the petition if you feel so inclined. Read this college students' account of her treatment and arrest. http://www.pittsburghpolicebrutality.com/?p=46

Check out this video:

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To: University of Pittsburgh

We the undersigned express our support for all students arrested and charged with misdemeanor offenses during the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh.

We believe that the right of citizens-- students, professors, families, community members, and media-- to assemble and gather peacefully in public was not only denied and violated but suppressed with unnecessary and excessive force. This violation is supported by eyewitness accounts, video, and photographic evidence.

http://www.alternet.org/rights/133273/do_the_secret_bush_memos_amount_to_treason_top_constitutional_scholar_says_yes/?page...
Do the Secret Bush Memos Amount to Treason? Top Constitutional Scholar Says Yes
By Naomi Wolf, AlterNet. Posted March 25, 2009.

Legal expert Michael Ratner calls the legal arguments made in the infamous Yoo memos, "Fuhrer's law."

In early March, more shocking details emerged about George W. Bush legal counsel John Yoo's memos outlining the destruction of the republic.

The memos lay the legal groundwork for the president to send the military to wage war against U.S. citizens; take them from their homes to Navy brigs without trial and keep them forever; close down the First Amendment; and invade whatever country he chooses without regard to any treaty or objection by Congress.

It was as if Milton's Satan had a law degree and was establishing within the borders of the United States the architecture of hell.

By Joe Strupp

Published: October 21, 2008 11:00 AM Et
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003875622

NEW YORK Three years after her difficult departure from The New York Times, Judith Miller says she still misses some of the people she worked with and the "excitement of the newsroom." She also says the Times remains "indispensable."

But in today's difficult economic atmosphere, she is glad to be out of the newspaper game at a time when cutbacks and shorter stories are the norm. "The Times has been so gloomy, they have gotten rid of the Metro section," Miller said Monday in a cell phone interview. "It is a very challenging time for our business. Look at the disappearance of The [New York] Sun - it was a very useful addition, whatever you thought of their politics."

Miller, who left the paper in 2005 after 28 years, spoke as word spread of her latest new job, as a commentator for Fox News. Miller said she will be on air and on the Web site part-time discussing First Amendment and free speech issues, as well as foreign policy and national security.

On Campus, On-Campus Developing - Written by Isha Dandavate on Saturday, October 18, 2008 22:13 - 2 Comments
NYU Employee Spits on 9/11 Conspiracy Theorist for Harassing Dan Rather

The panel discussion “The First Amendment, Freedom of the Press, and the Future of Journalism” got a little more interesting when an NYU facilities employee lashed out at conspiracy theorists questioning Dan Rather and Jill Abramson as they were leaving the event.

As reported on NYC the Blog and Mazza FHS the night began with the question “whether [Dan] Rather believes World Trade Center was taken down by bombs inside.” The conspiracy theorists followed Rather and Abramson out of the building after the panel discussion to continue questioning.

According to a NYU grad student, Aaron Howell, who was twittering at the event, “A NYU building facility guy got mad at the conspiracy guys for harassing the NY Times person so he spit in the dudes face/slapped his camera. Facility guy violated the poor conspiracy theorists I think NYU might be in trouble for that one.”

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/090808a.html

Storm Troopers at the RNC

By Ray McGovern
September 8, 2008

Ten days ago, as the nation focused attention on the hurricane nearing the Mississippi delta, another storm was brewing far upstream in St. Paul, Minnesota — a storm far more dangerous, it turned out, but one by and large overlooked by the Fawning Corporate Media (FCM).

When I flew into St. Paul on the evening of Aug. 30, I encountered a din in local media about “preemptive strikes” on those already congregating there to demonstrate against the Iraq war and injustice against the poor in our country.

St. Paul’s Pioneer Press expressed surprise that “despite preemptive police searches” and arrests, a group calling itself “the RNC Welcoming Committee” was still intent on “disrupting the convention.”

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20690.htm

When Protest Is Terrorism

RNC 8 Charged as Terrorists Under State Patriot Act

By Bruce Nestor

04/09/08 "ICH" -- - Ramsey County Charges RNC 8 Under State Patriot Act, Alleges Acts of Terrorism

In what appears to be the first use of criminal charges under the 2002 Minnesota version of the Federal Patriot Act, Ramsey County Prosecutors have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. Monica Bicking, Eryn Trimmer, Luce Guillen Givins, Erik Oseland, Nathanael Secor, Robert Czernik, Garrett Fitzgerald, and Max Spector, face up to 7 1/2 years in prison under the terrorism enhancement charge which allows for a 50% increase in the maximum penalty.

It's interesting how the word "anarchists" is being continually, Rovian-ly, associated with (peaceful) protesters exercizing their First Amendment rights, and how pre-emptive arrests (for non-existent thought crimes?) are becoming more commonplace.

Geraldo Rivera called us (9/11 Truth activists) anarchists when we marched peacefully but loudly up to his live broadcast outside Radio City Hall during last year's 9/11 events in NYC. I believe Alex Jones was arrested because of bullhorning without a permit . . . Then a cameraman (shown in Elephant in the Room) was arrested for filming the arrest.

Unlawful arrests, bogus charges, holding people without being charged for the duration of an event (and unable to contact lawyers), then being released, still without charges being pressed - we should be happy?

This St.Paul story sounds like what happened at the RNC convention in NYC in 2004, and in other cities then and since - more stories that never made the 5:00 o'clock news.

It seems like it's way past the time now for all of us to "get up & stand up" - non-violently, of course - any chance we get. -- Betsy

http://socialistworker.org/2008/09/05/lockdown-in-st-paul