Some clarification about the right to free assembly/protest
 

...there are prohibitions to the right of assembly/protest.

Prohibitions on advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred and it allows the restriction of the freedom to assembly in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

So yes the Police intervention in these recent protests are often called for and it is nothing new in the history of the U.S. In our history there has also been military intervention...multiple times since the 1900's...with loss of life.

So no the U.S. is not a Police State per se but does demand a respect for the rule of law and the rights of others...when ones right to free assembly/protest interferes with the rights of others who may...or may not...care two cents about your protest.

Thanks for bringing common sense back to this forum. Now prepared to be called different variations of "sheep".

I don't think anyone can argue that there aren't rules or laws being broken during these occupations and protests. I don't believe one of us can go through the day without a breaking a law there are so damn many for every damn thing.

But, it's incredibly hypocritical that we use force, sometimes excessive, on these protesters when we at the same time condemn the police and military forces in the middle eastern countries for the same. Our government cheers their protests and occupations, but then uses the same tactics other governments have used to discourage protests here at home.

Of course, it's not to the point of lives lost...yet. I certainly hope it doesn't escalate to that point!

So, I'm not here to call you a sheep, or tell you that you are wrong. Just to say we, as a nation, are complete hypocrites.

the social contract has been broken. those rules do not apply any more.

Thank you Captain Obviously A Bumblefuck Idiot.

Yes...it is my experience that most people...if not all people...are hypocrites...in one form or another or for one point or another...including myself as well...I am sure that if I knew you I could find some hypocrisy within yourself...in one form or another or over one point or another.

Hypocrisy is nothing new to the human animal.

Conservatives: sucking the cock of unjust authority since.. well.. for ever.

Liberals. Sucking the cock of the lazy, annoying, trouble making buffoon of an average American since...well... forever.

you live at home with your mom. fuck off. :2 cents:

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh Get your own jokes, you two bit hack.

I live on my own and pay your low income housing with my taxes.
:winkwink:

I didn't know a "sucking cock" joke was original, rofl.

I don't really have a position on OWS or any police actions recently. I'm sure some police have done some things wrong and I'm sure some protestors have too.

Speaking generally, though, what does the freedom of assembly mean that OWS and by extension also the Phelps family can do?
My right to free assembly means I can get together with WHOMEVER I choose, but not that we can do so in your house. So not WHEREVER I choose.

Certainly no one here would be OK with various groups, left, right and wacko, taking turns occupying your front yard, for weeks on end. You wouldn't say it's OK for the Phelps family with their stupid "God hates fags" signs to live in your yard.

So people have right to meet on their own property with their friends and that does not mean an occupation of any other place is OK, not based on freedom of assembly.

They also have a right to "petition for redress of grievances". That right, I would think, includes at least the right to petition via a one day protest march in front of the Capitol. What is the limit though, realizing that those idiot Phelps, OWS, and Tea Party people should all have the same rights, and realizing that what's ok to do on one street must be ok to do on YOUR street?

Yeah, you sure didn't completely copy my gag, rewording it to suit your needs.

Shut the fuck up, Dave.

"So not WHEREVER I choose."...is pretty much the bottom line.

I don't know. This has much of the same feeling as hosing down the civil rights protesters to me.

Remember the second golden rule kids:

When you are fighting the government, all of the rules apply.

When your government is fighting you, none of the rules apply.

When 1,000's of people take to the streets the winner gets to make the rules ...

The only problem with that is freedom of assembly ALWAYS interferes with the rights of others, so I guess it shouldn't exist:helpme

"Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. "

disobeying the rules is kind of the point.

Really?
1,000's in a land of 100's of millions really is an insignificant number. :2 cents:

Why is that? I seem to recall participating in a protest last March 17 and no ones rights were interfered with.

:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

These police attacks are bullshit.

Plain and simple.

Fuck the legal mumbo-jumbo.

I wouldn't even know about this OWS shit if the police were not overreacting like
a bunch of crazies trying to crush it out before I knew about it.

No it does not. Freedom of assembly/protests can be and often are held legally and peacefully...but usually not...thus Police intervention.

In response to your last sentence that is what the are at this point in time.