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A city councilman said once passed, overnight OWS stays will end. North Carolina's National Lawyers Guild cited constitutional issues and possible "increased confrontation between protesters and police."
OWS organizer Luis Radriguez said everyone calls Charlotte's DNC "ground zero. Everybody wants to be involved. We're estimating several thousand coming from the Occupy community." Organizing an alternative convention was proposed.
Tampa will host the 2012 Republican National Convention. Thousands of police will secure convention site areas. Officials expect up to 15,000 protesters in town.
Federal and local authorities have contingency plans for anything. Homeland Security (DHS) calls national conventions, as well as G-8/G-20, IMF, World Bank and similar summits "national special security events."
Whether or not Tampa plans anti-protest legislation, OWS and others present will be targeted, constrained and perhaps evicted. Constitutional rights will be denied. Freedom will take another body blow.
On January 18, Chicago's City Council will consider Mayor Rahm Emanuel 's anti-protest measures. Occupy neighborhood groups said provisions will chill constitutionally protected political speech. They reduce protest durations to two hours and double fines for arrests.
Public parks and beaches would close until 6AM, two hours later than now. In addition, loud noise, amplified sound, and music at parades and public assemblies would be allowed only between 8 - 10PM.
Other provisions restrict parade organizers and let city officials levy punitive fines. Chicago's police commissioner also could deputize law enforcement officials from federal and state agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, Illinois State Police, Illinois Attorney General, Justice Department, Cook County State's Attorney, and others.
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