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Fire Walk With Me

(38,893 posts)
4. Protesting NATO: What to Know About the Secret Service and H.R. 347
Thu May 17, 2012, 11:00 PM
May 2012
https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/protesting-nato-what-know-about-secret-service-and-hr-347

The forthcoming summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, set for May 20 and 21 in Chicago, could be the first public test of H.R. 347, the recently passed law that expanded the ability of the Secret Service to suppress protests in or around certain restricted zones near individuals under its protection. We've written about H.R. 347 here and here.

NATO summits are interesting affairs. Unlike the periodic meetings of member nations, the summits are more stately and elaborate events, meant to introduce major policy changes or new members to the strategic alliance (among other things). This means lots of Very Important Persons, and lots of Very Controversial Issues. Both of these things mean lots of expected First Amendment activity.

As far as H.R. 347 goes, the NATO summit has been declared a "National Special Security Event" by the Department of Homeland Security. This puts the Secret Service in charge of the overall security plan. My understanding is that the FBI chips in with counterterrorism and counterintelligence assistance, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (another DHS agency) is in charge of emergency preparation. It also means massive security preparations and infrastructure—and lots of opportunities for the suppression of lawful protest.

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I think we're seeing a fusing of the anti-war movement... ellisonz May 2012 #1
That's what happens when you become "anti any mainstream organization." TheWraith May 2012 #2
And then right wing false flaggers stir the whole mix. Alienating the left from the centre. applegrove May 2012 #3
Centrist is one thing OWS has never been. UnrepentantLiberal May 2012 #24
Sure it did. More than 50% of Americans supported Occupy back in the fall. Some of them were applegrove May 2012 #25
True. UnrepentantLiberal May 2012 #26
Protesting NATO: What to Know About the Secret Service and H.R. 347 Fire Walk With Me May 2012 #4
Occupy may hurt their cause. What made them so amazing was the multiple realities Occupy reflected applegrove May 2012 #5
Speaking truth to power can make you very unpopular. Zorra May 2012 #17
NATO may hurt their cause if they keep using depleted uranium think May 2012 #27
So when the movement started it was slammed for not having specific targets. Warren Stupidity May 2012 #6
I have never slammed Occupy. I was thrilled with everything that happened in the fall/winter. I applegrove May 2012 #7
Occupy is a people-powered movement. Fire Walk With Me May 2012 #12
We have another "I want to see Occupy succeed" post. U4ikLefty May 2012 #20
Success = Participation. n/t Fire Walk With Me May 2012 #23
The Chicago protests cover the whole range of Occupy's issues starroute May 2012 #16
This is not the first OP you've written about your "concerns" with Occupy. nt TBF May 2012 #28
I've written two. applegrove May 2012 #29
But, does anyone know what they are FOR? Teabaggers have managed to... TreasonousBastard May 2012 #8
Occupy has changed the focus of political discussion to the growing inequality in the USA. That is applegrove May 2012 #9
So what the fuck has #Occupy done so far? pinboy3niner May 2012 #10
Occupy is exactly like the Druids. Fire Walk With Me May 2012 #13
LOL! Except the ancient Druids are not around to explain... pinboy3niner May 2012 #14
'Xactly. People, you've had 7+ months to hit the google button Fire Walk With Me May 2012 #22
It's ashame because NATO is such a bastion of democratic values think May 2012 #11
Occupy views nato as the militarized arm of the 1% 2pooped2pop May 2012 #15
Yeah I guess that's true, but it's not like you can stop it. limpyhobbler May 2012 #18
NATO is not mainstream. They are an elite group of resource-hoarding nations. U4ikLefty May 2012 #19
NATO to spend billions on nuclear weapons overhaul - convenient for defense contractors Fire Walk With Me May 2012 #21
I think it was yesterday I went googling for this kind of info - TBF May 2012 #30
Ouch, thanks. All that, and zero money for schools! Fire Walk With Me May 2012 #31
No money for schools - along with poking at SS etc... TBF May 2012 #32
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